18 February 2015
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Cork’s only senior Minister Simon Coveney TD, today announced that the
total volume of milk supplies up to the end of January 2015 leaves
Ireland 5.47% over-quota.
The quota year will end on 31 March 2015 when EU milk quotas will be
abolished., but until then Ireland has to continue to follow the
rules.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine – referring to the
overrun – commented “I would encourage milk producers, with the help
of their advisors, to continue managing milk production in the
remaining important production weeks to the end of March. The
abolition of milk quota presents a massive opportunity for the Irish
dairy sector and one which we should look forward to with confidence.
However, it is important that dairy farmers plan prudently for this
new era. I will continue to work closely, right up to the 31st March,
with other EU Ministers and with Commissioner Hogan to seek any
available measures which can ease the burden of superlevy payments,
but on the basis of discussions at EU level to date, farmers should
work on the basis of an assumption that superlevy rules will apply,
albeit for the last time, in 2015.”