Macra welcomes allocation of milk quota for new entrants to dairying

A DECISION by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to allocate a quarter of the 1% increase in the national milk quota to new entrants to dairying has been welcomed by Macra na Feirme and criticised by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

Mr Smith recently announced his plans for the allocation of the second of five annual increases of 1% in milk quotas agreed under the so-called “health check” of the CAP reform.

One quarter of the increase (about 14 million litres) will be set aside to support new entrants to milk production. The balance will be allocated as a 0.75% rise in quota on a permanent, saleable basis for every producer active on April 1, 2010.