Ring-fencing ‘vital to dairy future’

THE retention of milk quota ring-fencing going forward is critical to the maintenance of the dairy industry in vulnerable parts of Ireland in light of the double threat arising from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the nitrates directive, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association warned yesterday.

Dairy Committee Chairman Dominic Cronin said that given the developments at the WTO, he would be very concerned by any suggestion the abolition of ring-fencing is the solution to the problems facing dairy farmers.

It would be the worst response to the threats facing the dairy sector and would send the dairy sector along the same destructive route as the sugar beet sector, he said.