Milk suppliers warn prices could force 3,000 farmers out of business

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has warned that 3,000 dairy farmers could be forced out of business in Ireland this year unless the European Union changes its policy.

It called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to form new alliances in the EU to bring about such a policy change.

However, Mr Smith dismissed as “a flawed argument” the suggestion that quota increases are the cause of the current low prices for milk.