Milk quota scheme for new entrants 'pie in the sky'

A SCHEME designed to give 200,000 litres of milk quota to new entrants to dairying was described as “pie in the sky” by the Irish…

A SCHEME designed to give 200,000 litres of milk quota to new entrants to dairying was described as “pie in the sky” by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith had said the new applicants would be carefully chosen and would have to submit a comprehensive business plan. They would be required to attend Teagasc training courses and submit annual financial statements if accepted. “All in the industry agree on the importance of attracting new blood and now is the time to press ahead with new initiatives. This new scheme is a serious effort to identify people who have a future in dairying and can demonstrate not just their potential but also their commitment to the sector,” he said.

But ICMSA deputy president John O’Leary said he had at first thought the communiqué could not be serious.

“The idea that the absolutely dire situation of dairy farmers or indeed the utter collapse in prices right throughout the sector will be alleviated in any way by some obscure and long-winded, bureaucratic system... is a perfect symbol of everything that is wrong with our present dairy policy.”