IFA President John Bryan has challenged the stakeholders in the Irish dairy industry on the need for joined up thinking to deliver fully on our strong potential for dairy expansion. 

 

“I believe all stakeholders in the industry must, by year-end, crystallise a detailed plan to achieve a growth potential in the dairy sector that is credible and sustainable for the years before and after 2015,” Mr Bryan said.

 

“To deliver on our strong dairy expansion potential, the enthusiasm to increase production among dairy farmers on the ground must be matched with a clear and cohesive industry strategy by co-ops, the Irish Dairy Board, Government, advisory services, bankers and farmers,” he said.

 

Mr Bryan stated the farming community could not be credibly advised to blindly increase milk production without having the policy, financial and structural issues challenging this expansion fully worked out. “Already, farmers having been advised to milk away are phoning me, expressing concern on the likelihood and implications for them of a superlevy fine arising between now and 2015,” he said.

 

“Once quotas are gone in 2015, the dairy industry’s ability to process and market the extra milk will be critical in determining how much farmers can sustainably produce. There needs to be clear joined up thinking among co-ops including the Irish Dairy Board, and between them and Government agencies and financial institutions to ensure that the industry is properly funded and capable of delivering fully on its undoubted strong expansion potential. Government will have to come up to the mark in assisting the sector to meet these challenges,” he concluded.