More supports for the dairy industry

THE European Commission has taken further steps to ease the plight of the dairy industry.

A meeting of the management committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets in Brussels has decided to increase export refunds for butter, skimmed milk powder and whole milk powder. It will also accept into intervention butter and skimmed milk powder while maintaining intervention purchase prices.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith said: “I am pleased the market management mechanisms are now being further expanded to deal with the very difficult dairy market situation we are facing.”