Dairy producers facing significant challenges, warns McGuinness

DAIRYING remains a key component of the Irish agriculture sector, European Parliament member Mairead McGuinness said at the silver jubilee Baileys champion cow competition, held at Virginia Show in Co Cavan yesterday.

But currently dairy producers, like other farmers, are coping with the immediate challenge posed by the recent heavy rainfall.

“This has put huge pressure on farmers, forcing many to bring cows indoors and adding to costs. Many farmers have been unable to make their second cut of silage.

“Others also face the challenge of coping with slurry tanks full to capacity and unable to get out onto land to spread. Milk deliveries are also back sharply because of the poor weather conditions,” she said.

Ms McGuinness said in the medium to long term, the challenges for dairy farmers lie in dealing with a future where milk quotas no longer exist.

She urged EU member state agriculture ministers to provide certainty to milk producers.

The Ireland East MEP is tabling amendments in the Common Agricultural Policy health check, calling for a 2% increase in quotas on an annual basis so that farmers can plan for the future.

However, Ms McGuinness warned that some member states, including Germany and Austria, are resisting milk quota increases due to concerns about profitability in their milk sectors.

Minister of State Tony Killeen, speaking at the show, which had some 420 classes and €50,000 in prize money, said pedigree livestock breeders have a vital role to play in leading the way for commercial farmers in producing animals of the quality that the markets now demand.