Number of farmers supplying liquid milk to retail market to 'continue to decline'

IFA liquid milk chairman Keith O’Boyle said that the price of fresh milk on supermarket shelves must be restored by 10c/litre.

Poor weather conditions and high production costs have "exposed the vulnerability" of the fresh milk sector which is now at a "critical juncture".

The number of farmers who supply fresh milk to the retail market has fallen consecutively every year since 2002 and it is expected the number "will continue to decline", the Irish Farmers' Association has warned.

Over the last two decades, the IFA estimates there has been a cumulative reduction of 60%, with the sector now supplied by only 1,286 suppliers.