Farmers have resumed their blockade of Dawn Meats in Grannagh in South Kilkenny this morning.

A large crowd of protesters met opposite the factory last night.

They decided to resume the picket despite court threats, with a blockade of ABP in Ferrybank due to get underway this evening after five o’clock.

National representatives for the independent farmers group were elected in Laois last night.

Three delegates each were sent to the meeting by picketing farmers at ABP in Ferrybank and at Dawn Meats in Grannagh as well as elsewhere.

They will speak on behalf of beef farmers if negotiations with the meat industry resume.

A spokesperson for the Independent Farmers of Ireland  released the following statement.

In an effort to restart the Beef Talks 3 delegates from each factory affected by the national Beef Protest will hold a meeting in the Midlands to democratically elect 3 national representatives . These representatives will be able to sit at the negotiating table with the full backing of all protesters and facilitate any proposal that is reached. This course of action is being taken to provide us, the Independent Farmers of Ireland with a united voice in the face of continuous harassment of our individual members by big business .

Despite repeated efforts to engage with Minister Creed all approaches have been rebuffed. In fact it has been stated that all we want to talk about is price which is far from the truth as the Minister is well aware. Going forward we will have 3 spokespeople available at all times to attempt to bring this stalemate to an end and achieve the original goal of this protest,