Macra hits out at quota trading plan
Macra president Colm Markey said that open quota trading would result in progressive dairy farmers paying huge amounts to those leaving the sector.
“I cannot understand how asking dairy farmers to foot the cost of a nest egg for those leaving the industry will improve competitiveness,” he said.
Mr Markey said the department’s emphasis on increasing competitiveness in the dairy sector is again focused on farmers, while there is little or no mention of the need for greater competitiveness at processing level.
He said the minister should abandon her plans for open trading and start examining ways of getting more milk quota into the country.
Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association president Malcolm Thompson welcomed the emphasis on consumer-focused marketing in the plan. This was central to delivering better beef and lamb prices to farmers.
“The proper resources must be committed to ensuring that there is a future for sustainable farming in Ireland,” he said.
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association president Jackie Cahill said he was disappointed there are few actual proposals for the business of farming in the plan.
Meanwhile, an IFA blueprint for the future of agriculture is to be launched within weeks, IFA president Padraig Walshe has announced.
