Quota price must be competitive: IFA

COMMITTED milk producers could only afford to pay an economic price for quota, regardless of what system Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan introduces after April 1, 2007, the IFA warned last night.

Dairy Committee chairman Richard Kennedy told an Duhallow IFA meeting the minister must ensure her new system operates without recourse to brokers or auctioneers, some of whom have tried to hype up quota price expectations.

“Farmers will only be able to stay in business and grow their enterprise with viable milk prices and affordable milk quota,” Mr Kennedy said.