IT has been a good year for milk production and milk prices.

However, there are serious over-quota problems for many farmers.

Over 10% of dairy farmers had their full annual quota filled before Christmas, and a lot of farmers have less than half their quota requirements for up to the end of March.

There is no satisfactory solution. Under-feeding cows must be avoided, it would lead to long-term problems. Feeding as much milk as possible to calves and feeding a low protein ration to cows, or selling some cows, will help, but there is no way to stay under quota for many.