Policy uncertainty a ‘contributing factor’ to ‘worrying’ milk supply trends

DII chairman Pat Sheahan said that a loss in milk volume leads to “inefficiency with milk going through plants and the cost of production increasing”.

With global dairy demand “still accelerating year by year”, dairy production could “move to regions with multiples of the carbon footprint of Irish dairy” if policy negatively impacts production here.

Policy uncertainty is a “contributing factor” to milk supply trends, with there being a “worrying change” in Irish supply, Dairy Industry Ireland has warned.

Director Conor Mulvihill said milk supply was down 4.1% in 2023 and has already dropped by 9% this year.