‘Less milk may mean quicker price rise’

The EU’s new scheme to pay dairy farmers to produce less milk can increase milk prices much earlier than expected, and get farmers back into a profitable situation, said ICMSA president John Comer.

He said the scheme will also focus minds at milk processor level, because farmers now have an option to supply or to reduce production.

“If milk processors across the EU need milk in the fourth quarter this year, they are now going to have to recognise that milk production in the fourth quarter will be back 1.1m tonnes, and that should mean stronger returns from the marketplace and stronger returns for the farmers.”