Dairy farmers ‘will have to prioritise resources for on-farm investment’

DAIRY farmers will have to prioritise their resources for on-farm investment to fund the estimated €1bn cost of expanding the dairy sector, according to IFA national dairy committee chairman Kevin Kiersey.

Speaking in light of the views expressed by speakers at the Teagasc National Dairy Conference in Cork, Mr Kiersey said it was clear that farmers would need constructive co-operation from banks to provide expansion-friendly fiscal policies between to 2015 and beyond.

He said: “Irish dairy farmers are enthusiastic about engaging in dairy expansion after 2015, insofar as there are real global market opportunities which can be capitalised on profitably.