Young farmers to be prioritised in final year of milk quota

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has approved a dairy sector proposal to lower the price of priority pool milk quota, which is primarily targeted at young farmers and smaller producers, to 3c per litre.

Mr Coveney confirmed that 2014/15 — the final quota year prior to the Apr 2015 abolition of milk output restrictions — will follow the same approach as in prior years. This decision followed discussions with farming organisations and co-op umbrella body ICOS.

“While the annual review of schemes with the farming organisations and ICOS considered different options for this final year of trading, the consensus was that it would be best to continue with the current structure,” he said.