Superlevy fines could force dairy farmers to quit

HUNDREDS of young farmers face being forced out of dairy farming due to superlevy fines, which may yet cost Ireland tens of millions of euro nationally.

Many co-ops have already exceeded their EU milk quotas by 6%-8% — with six months to go to the March 31 end of the 2011/2012 quota year. Young farmers are the first casualties of fines which could cost individual farmers €30,000 or more.

Ireland has evaded superlevy fines since 2007/08, but paid out €117 million prior to that.