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Ireland likely to be less than 1% over end of year milk quota

This is the last year the Irish dairy sector will be unbound by quota restrictions.

THE MINISTER FOR Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney has announced that the preliminary output estimate for the end of the milk quota year is that Ireland will finish 0.94 per cent over quota.

The 2013/14 quota year expired on 31 March with the 0.94 per cent figure being an estimate based on returns to the Department by the co-ops, taking into account the relevant butterfat adjustment.

The final figure will be confirmed at the end of May.

“While this end of year figure is still only an estimate, it appears that farmers have made substantial efforts over recent weeks to manage their supplies. The current position represents a significant improvement in production management since last January when the estimated milk quota position was 1.63 per cent over quota,” said Minister Coveney.

This years estimate is a reduction on the 1.26 per cent estimate at end of February and continues a downward trend from December of last year, which is being attributed to unfavourable weather in the first quarter of this year as well as better management by farmers of their supplies.

The minister said that while many farmers are anxious to expand their production levels, it is important to remember that quota restrictions will remain in place until this time next year.

“I would encourage farmers to be conscious of this and to plan prudently as they prepare for the post quota era,” he said. 

He added:

We are now entering a momentous phase in Irish agriculture history, with less than one year to go to quota abolition. This time next year the Irish dairy sector will be unbound by quota restrictions and can begin to realise its vast potential and make an even greater contribution to our national economy.

Read:  Growth sector: AIB unveils €500m farm fund>

Read:  Legislation intended to protect consumers could lead to price increases and job losses>

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17 Comments
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    Mute Nicole McCormack
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    Apr 17th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Sooner the better when the quota system will go. Ireland is on a prime position to boost exports of milk products and the quota system was holding Ireland back

    127
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    Mute My Views
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    Apr 17th 2014, 8:51 AM

    I wonder what do other countries think of Irish milk? I hate milk when I go abroad. No nicer milk than Irish milk!

    114
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    Mute Thors Big Hammer
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    Apr 17th 2014, 9:00 AM

    @My view you are so correct. Alot of farms abroad feed the cows differently like factory farming the guys dont get out to graze.

    51
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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Apr 17th 2014, 9:45 AM

    Most milk in Mediterranean countries for example is UHT milk, imported from Northern Europe. That’s why it tastes different. The different taste is not down to whether the cows eats grass or high grain based diets

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    Mute Tommy Moriarty
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    Apr 17th 2014, 10:01 AM

    As Mr. Fox said: (Dougal’s New Boss) You’d better get going, actually. Milk gets sour y’know. Unless it’s UHT milk, but there’s no demand for that because it’s shite

    55
    Dan
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    Mute Dan
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    Apr 17th 2014, 10:36 AM

    Thats all I can think of when someone mentions UHT milk!

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    Mute Cormac Ryan
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    Apr 17th 2014, 12:31 PM

    Grass fed cows do have different milk composition than those fed high grain diets. The difference is seen in butter, irish butter is yellowier than US butter

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    Mute Karl O Neill
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    Apr 17th 2014, 11:39 AM

    What a ridiculous thing to be bound by a quota in the first place. A bit like how we are limited in fishing our own waters.

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    Mute Giuseppe
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    Apr 17th 2014, 10:27 AM

    I would have thought if we are over producing milk, prices would fall?. Over supply – lower price ? I smells a rat ? Price fixing ?.

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Apr 17th 2014, 10:31 AM

    Good international demand for dairy products at the moment. Irish milk powder is feeding 1 in 5 infants in the world at present. That’s an incredible global market share for a small country like ours.

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    Mute Cormac Ryan
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    Apr 17th 2014, 12:32 PM

    The EU as a whole is under quota…UK massively so

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    Mute One-Off Ireland
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    Apr 17th 2014, 1:30 PM

    quota system will need to be replaced with sectorial greenhouse gas emission targets in forthcoming climate change bill

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Apr 17th 2014, 2:00 PM

    No it doesn’t.

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    Mute One-Off Ireland
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    Apr 17th 2014, 4:15 PM

    Yes it does – agriculture = 40% of Irish emissions

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    Mute Rory Mac Daibhéid
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    Apr 17th 2014, 6:19 PM

    That’s correct about CO2 that agriculture is responsible for 40% of Irelands emissions. If we are to reach targets for reductions in CO2 in theory we need reduce farming output. This is not a good situation. I mean Irelands cattle are grass fed and natural unlike the produce in some countries and we are to be punished by the EU for the CO2 they produce. As a advocator of the EU and renewable energy policy in general the CO2 policy imposed on Ireland is ludicrous. If climate change affects Europe more and it becomes less productive we should still be able to deliver produce to many nations. Needs to be a revision of the CO2 associated with agriculture for Irelands situation.

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    Mute Ben Brown
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    Apr 17th 2014, 11:58 AM

    they give out about starving people and then put quota’s on everything .. why do we pay farmers not to grow ..
    there is 100% a manipulation on food prices

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    Mute Cormac Ryan
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    Apr 17th 2014, 12:39 PM

    Yes the Eu has been manipulating food prices from day 1!
    One of the founding principles of the EU was to guarantee food security(treaty of rome) in order to do this they devised mechanisms to guarantee that there was a living to be made from farming. As technology improved on farm we were able to produce more food than the EU could consume so they devised a system of limiting production and buying surplus on the eu market and ‘dumping’ it on the world market(Intervention). over numerous trade agreements these market controls have lessened

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