Trouble in big bad milk world
She was largely unsympathetic, for example rejecting complaints of increased fuel costs for farmers with a suggestion that they run their tractors on bioethanol.
In fact, if she had her way, she made it clear, dairy farmers would be getting even less. CAP reform had reduced the prices, to be more competitive in the world market, and increased the EU milk quota. But ex-farm prices in Ireland, have remained more or less stable, according to the Commissioner, and direct payments to dairy farmers increased. The final outcome was not that bad, because the increase in the direct payment is bigger than the decrease in the milk price, she said.
