Calls for milk quota clarification

THE Irish Co-operative Organisation Society has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, to signal to producers about the milk quota restructuring options for 2004 and 2005.

Director general, John Tyrrell, said at the ICOS national conference in Dublin this week that, in many parts of the country, there was a recognition that the quotas needed for skilled, full-time dairy farmers would be significantly higher than the current average.

“Some estimates have put the future viability level at 80-90 cows, in order to achieve the average national industrial wage. Something clearly needs to be done,” Mr Tyrell said.