Act now to avert milk levy when herds increase

ACCORDING to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation database, dairy cows are expected to increase by 3.2% in 2011, and a further 3.8% in 2012 and 2013.

The situation varies from country to county. An increase of 4% to 5% is expected in Cork and Kilkenny, but little or no increase is expected in some other counties.

With another few years of quota restriction left, these extra cows will cause a high super levy fine for farmers unless appropriate action is taken now.