Macra na Feirme questions ICMSA’s relevance for future dairy farmers

MACRA na Feirme yesterday questioned the relevance of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) to represent dairy farmers of the future.

It followed the ICMSA dismissal of the scheme announced earlier this week by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to facilitate new entrants to dairying as “pie in the sky”.

ICMSA deputy president John O’Leary said the minister might be better advised trying to save the country’s fast disappearing dairy farmers instead of schemes that could divert scarce attention and resources from those already in the sector who were now losing money on a daily basis.

However, Macra president Michael Gowing said all concerned in the dairy industry have already agreed that a policy which encourages new entrants to dairying is necessary.

It is needed to sustain the future of the industry and to prepare for the time when quotas are abolished, as has been agreed by the European Union for 2015.

Mr Gowing said the ICMSA has totally missed the point of the scheme, which was never intended to address the short term milk price problem in dairying. It was instead aimed at addressing the issues of the poor age structure of the industry and the urgent need to get new blood and non-traditional new entrants into dairying.

“This is the first time an initiative of this nature was made to get new blood into dairying and with any industry its future success depends on attracting new people, new ideas and new skills,” said Mr Gowing.

“All in the industry agree that a rebalancing of the age structure is critical in allowing the Irish dairy industry to compete successfully against major international competitors in the future,” he said.

Mr Gowing added that the industry also needs to address long term issues that affect its future such as pursuing policies that facilitate greater access for young people. Accessing a feasible quantity of milk quota remains a major limiting factor to attracting non-traditional new entrants into the industry.

Mr Gowing said the scheme will potentially attract 65 new entrants to dairying who will receive a 200,000 litre quota.