Dairy Board predicts tough year for farmers

The Irish Dairy Board has predicted that 2004 will be a tough year for Irish farmers, despite an upturn in the international market.

In its World Dairy Review published today, the board said global demand for dairy products was

increasing, but refund cuts and adverse euro exchange rates were eroding the potential market returns for EU exporters.

The Dairy Board said farm incomes in Ireland were relatively unchanged this year, but would probably fall next year due the implementation of the EU’s reform of the Common Agriculture

Policy.