“The main ‘takeaway’ for us from yesterday’s meeting was the view expressed by Tánaiste Varadkar that he is against any volume control on the amount of Irish milk produced”. These were the words of Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association president Pat McCormack.
It followed a meeting between Leo Varadkar and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Martin Heydon. Discussions at the meeting focused on concerns surrounding farmers including input costs, however, a more serious matter emerged as a dire concern regarding the reduction of the volume of dairy production surfaced.
The ICMSA has reiterated that it considers official policies regarding milk production to be of highest importance and says that it is interpreting the comment “as an assurance that emissions lowering measures that are already working will be given a chance”. McCormack adds that the ICMSA believes that they are not going to see any crude and unscientific measures on an “across-the-board” basis aimed at lowering the production of milk.
On the topic of emissions in terms of the production of this valuable agri-export, McCormak has provided reassurance that it is possible to lower emissions while increasing economic and social value in terms of the production of the commodity.
LSL News.