The Irish Sugar plant in Mallow, Co Cork, closed today after beet supplies did not resume despite a High Court injunction against the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
The IFA have been urging farmers not to supply beet until a new price has been agreed.
"The turbines were turned off at 12.20 today," an Irish Sugar spokesman said.
It is understood a lorry containing beet turned away from the gates of the Mallow plant this morning after it was met by protesters.
The IFA say they are willing to negotiate a over a new price but say the offer of last year’s price for this years harvest is unacceptable. They say they will contest the High Court injunction at hearing on Thursday.
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Irish Sugar are taking a firm stand on the issue saying they want an "expert, independent, adjudication system" in place to agree prices in the future.
A report commissioned by the company shows the beet price in Ireland is greater than that paid in France or Britain.
In the meantime, the Mallow plant has been closed and will not reopen until, the company say, they receive a guarantee of a full resumption of supplies. About one-third of this year’s estimated £60 million harvest has already been supplied.
The Irish Sugar spokesman said it could take a week to 10 days to make the plant ready for beet processing. The company’s other plant, in Carlow, closed last Sunday.
The IFA say the company are attempting to "take out" the leadership of the organisation but management say the refusal to supply the beet is a breech of contract.
"Blockades, boycotts and demands are not a good basis for any business discussion," the Irish Sugar spokesman said.
Around 320 people are employed at the Mallow plant while a similar number are involved in processing in Carlow.
Fine Gael and the Labour Party have called on the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, to personally intervene in the dispute.