EU and Irish dairy industry blamed for poor milk prices
“Our industry processes only 4.5% of the milk produced in the EU, yet this year it contributed 60% of all the products sold into EU intervention,” he said after the Commission’s Dairy Management Committee reduced export refunds and aids, in response to rising world prices.
“Figures released at the Dairy Committee show that 58% of 26,500 tonnes of butter bought into intervention between March 1 and the end of May was from Ireland, while 61% of the 4,900 tonnes of SMP (skim milk powder) bought in over the same period was sold in by Irish co-ops.
“Our industry remains far too dependent on commodities; this makes our milk price much more vulnerable to Brussels’ decisions, and our over-use of the intervention system damages our credibility in trying to make a case for a CAP reform implementation which would be less damaging for Irish milk prices,” said Mr Murphy.
He welcomed the decision by Lakeland Co-op to hold their May milk price. After Dairygold’s 2c per gallon May milk price cut last Friday, Mr Murphy called on the co-op to show leadership, and boost milk producers’ confidence by holding prices for the rest of the year.
