Fresh milk shortages far likelier than most believe

Post quota, the Irish model for dairy expansion seeks to optimise our cost-efficient way of producing milk for exportable commodities: compact spring calving to grass, extended grazing at the back end of the year, followed by a two months’ break as cows are dried off.

With the severe erosion of winter premiums traditionally paid to liquid milk producers for supplying fresh milk from autumn calved cows for the fresh milk market, and potential difficulties Brexit may cause for the 26% of milk sales imported from Northern Ireland, we have the recipe for fresh milk shortages.

Sounds crazy to you? It shouldn’t.