CAP reform plans loom large

Looming over the new year for Irish farmers are the rules on how the CAP reform will be implemented here — and the countdown to the end of milk quotas, now only 452 days away.

In this context, the ambitious plan launched in the UK to end its €1.5bn per year dairy trade deficit by 2025 gives a flavour of what is at stake in the momentous decision-making ahead for Irish agriculture.

If the UK plan takes off and succeeds, one third of Ireland’s dairy exports could be displaced. At least the UK plan injects some reality into the over-optimistic Irish dairy picture seen by some.