UK trade plan threatens Irish dairy exporters

The UK dairy industry has launched a plan to end its €1.5bn per year trade deficit by 2025 — putting 36% of Ireland’s dairy exports in the firing line.

Farmers, milk purchasers, and processors have presented a strategy to farm minister George Eustice in London on how to seize the opportunity presented by growing global demand for dairy products.

They say the UK could become a net dairy exporter by producing 4bn extra litres of milk, through yield improvements and adding at least half a million more cows.