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.