Future milk price transparency vital

MUCH greater clarity on the future price of milk quota is required to minimise uncertainty for producers and to create stability in the dairy sector in the years ahead, an industry leader said yesterday.

Lakeland Dairies chief executive Ed Prendergast, said farmers who make the decision to stay in dairying will stretch themselves to the limit financially to buy the maximum possible volume of quota post-decoupling.

Speaking at the presentation of the co-op’s milk quality awards in Virginia, Co Cavan, he said the future price of milk quota will therefore be one of their most limiting factors.