Cahill defends ICMSA’s ‘keep quotas’ policy

WITHOUT milk quotas, farmers would have got only 16 or 17 cent per litre for milk this year, according to ICMSA.

In the Irish Examiner Farming forum held during last Saturday’s National Dairy Show, ICMSA president Jackie Cahill defended the association’s “keep milk quotas” policy, and their membership of the European Milk Board (EMB). He said this year’s €800 million of EU support for milk prices wouldn’t have been forthcoming for the unlimited milk supply which is likely after 2015, when quotas are abolished.

The likelihood of the milk price settling at 25c also makes the case for supply management, he said.