Milk quota transfer proposal is hard to credit

I WISH to protest at the recent proposal by the Department of Agriculture for the transfer of milk quotas.

This is the second proposal this year. The first, by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, was designed to speed up the movement of milk quota to young farmers by selling quota through the marts and auctioneers and by land-leasing.

This was widely welcomed by older farmers and small quota-holders as it would give them the true market value for milk quota.

However, the ICMSA and IFA became hysterical at this proposal and Fine Gael, who always have something to say on all ministerial proposals, were silent. Why?

For example, they could have suggested the Spanish system whereby the government buys out the quota from older farmers and then distributes it to younger ones.

The latest proposal, by the Department of Agriculture, which has been welcomed by the farming organisations, is hard to credit.

For example:

1. If I want to sell my quota, first of all a sizeable portion of it is siphoned off. This is for needy cases. I believe such farmers should be helped, but who should help them? Is it the elderly farmers or the Government?

2. I am then fitted with a blindfold and a handicap. I must offer my milk at a price of my choosing. If it is too high (and there is no way of knowing in advance), I do not get to sell this year, but the portion siphoned off is not returned. Buyers are also discouraged from offering a fair price because if they bid too high a price, they get nothing. This is called a ‘price calming’ measure. Once again, Fine Gael are silent.

There is another milk quota arrangement each year called temporary leasing. Again it is hard to credit Ms Coughlan’s attitude here. Temporary leasing comes into use when a farmer fails to fulfil his or her quota. This may be caused by some misfortune such as human or animal illness, bad weather, etc.

These are usually hard luck cases, but Ms Coughlan cut the quota price for temporary leasing down to 12 cent a gallon from June 1 last. Surely this is kicking people when they are down. We should remember buyers of this quota could be saving themselves a superlevy fine of €1.60 per gallon. Ireland paid a €15 million fine in 2004.

Fine Gael are still silent.

Finally, I appeal for someone out there to lead quota-sellers so that as a group we will get fair treatment.

Daithí Burke

Gooseberry Hill

Meelin

Newmarket

Co Cork