Big opportunity for dairy farmers

The impact of dairy farming on the recovery of the rural economy was highlighted at a conference hosted by Teagasc and ICOS last week to mark the elimination of the EU milk quota system.

The event at the City West Hotel, Co Dublin, marked the launch of a book which charts the history of the dairy sector in Ireland in the quota era, and which also estimates the jobs dividend that the policy change will bring for Ireland.

Irish dairy farmers can now milk dairy cows without the restriction of milk quotas for the first time in 31 years.