The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, has promised to continue consultation with the farm organisations over the allocation of 32 million extra gallons of milk which the EU will allow Ireland to produce from next April, writes Sean MacConnell, Agiculture Correspondent. He also promised consultation on possible changes in the management of the quota regime, made possible by the amendments agreed in Brussels as part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The allocation of the extra milk quota is causing friction in the farming community, heightening the difference between the large and smaller dairy operators. Traditionally, any surplus milk quota was given to smaller producers to make them more viable, but the Irish Farmers Association has signalled that it would like to see this changed.