Relief for restricted herd producers

Producers whose herds are restricted due to animal disease will be considered for temporary allocations under the milk quota national reserve scheme, Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan announced yesterday.

But Ms Coughlan said the amount of quota available was limited and applicants should not expect allocations to match their additional production.

She said the scheme aimed to alleviate difficulties when a herd is restricted, but should not be seen as releasing restricted producers from their quota management responsibilities.