Macra: Young farmers lose on quota

THE allocation of the 2% increase in milk quota was described by Macra na Feirme president Catherine Buckley as a lost opportunity by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to bring about real restructuring to the dairy industry.

Ms Buckley said Macra called for the targeting of some of the increase to young farmers who want to enter dairying. The real benefit of quota increases to the industry would have been realised by this, she said.

“New entrants are ruled out from what has become a closed industry unless you have deep pockets to purchase quota to enter the industry,” she said.

However, Ms Coughlan said she was satisfied allocating the extra quota to every producer was fair.