Clinton urges farmers to plough ahead on boosting milk output 50%

WE have the land and the people, let’s do it – encouraging words for farmers from ex-IFA president Tom Clinton ahead of government plans to grow milk production 50% by 2020.

But the enormity of the challenge was made clear by Clinton and other speakers at the Irish Examiner Farming Forum, during last Saturday’s National Dairy Show at Millstreet.

Co Cork farmers have conditions as good as anywhere in the world to produce milk off grass, he said – up there with New Zealand, where Clinton is involved in milk production, as well as in his native north Co Meath.