Research aims to reduce milk costs

AN increase in the dairy research levy contributed by farmers will have the specific target of reducing the overall cost of milk production.

A production cost reduction of 2.5c/litre (9p/gal) and an increase in the value of milk ex-farm by 1c/litre (3.5p/gal) will the targets of Teagasc Moorepark.

The levy increase, recently agreed by the Dairy Research Trust Co-op, under the overall umbrella of ICOS, is to support an expansion in the research programmes.