IFA calls for superlevy suspension for dairy farmers

Dairy farmers need superlevy payments to be suspended for a year to ease their present financial crisis, according to the IFA.

IFA dairy chairman, Sean O’Leary, said: “In our submission to the Dairy Forum, we have looked for all the Irish stakeholders to play their fullest part in providing farmers with support and assistance, including co-ops, Teagasc and other agencies, banks and of course the government.”

Mr O’Leary wants agri industry stakeholders to co-ordinate their actions to deliver milk price supports, fixed price contracts, flexible merchant credit, and advice on cost cutting.

“At EU level, Minister Coveney must obtain a suspension of superlevy payments for 2016 — a suspension of at least one year for repayments to give farmers real cash flow relief,” he said Mr O’Leary.

“He must seek suspension of import tariffs on fertiliser, to boost competition on EU markets, and reduce farmers’ costs meaningfully.”