Seasonality scheme ‘to force farmers to produce milk at a higher cost’

DAIRY farmers in Cork have described Dairygold’s new milk supply seasonality scheme as a monthly quota that will force farmers to produce milk at higher cost.

The farmers voiced their concerns in a meeting with the north and east Cork executive of ICMSA. The chairman of that executive, Julian O’Keeffe, said that the while co-ops wanted the abolition of milk quotas, they are now introducing monthly quotas of their own that will force farmers to produce milk at higher cost, coupled with very severe penalties for supplying in excess of the limits set.

Mr O’Keeffe said: “Milk quotas are in place up to 2015 and Dairygold have the capacity to deal with this level of production so there should be absolutely no need to introduce draconian penalties at this time. If Dairygold feel that some individual suppliers are supplying way in excess of the norms during peak periods, then they should address these issues with those suppliers rather than placing very harsh penalties on all suppliers.”