Walsh hints at quota rule change

CHANGES in national milk quota policy to re-direct more milk quota towards larger producers have been strongly hinted by Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh in his mapping of the way forward for the dairy industry.

The Minister gave the strongest indication yet that he wants to direct quota towards the larger producers with the scope and ability for expansion, than has been possible with the current quota regulations, when he addressed a representative gathering of producers and processors at an open day at Moorepark in Fermoy.

He described current arrangements for milk quota re-distribution as “unsatisfactory” saying that they failed to accommodate levels of development required on farms to meet the challenges ahead.