The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today announced that the total volume of milk supplies up to the end of December, taking into account the relevant butterfat adjustment, leaves Ireland 5.93% over-quota. This figure continues the downward trend in the over-quota figure which was 7.15% and 6.51% in October and November respectively, but is still significantly above the 1.63% over-quota position of this time last year. The quota year will end on 31 March 2015 when EU milk quotas will be abolished.

Referring to the overrun, the Minister commented “This downward trend in the over-quota figure is welcome as it reduces the exposure of farmers to superlevy payments. I note that the monthly intake of milk in December was 18% down on the same month last year and this suggests that farmers are continuing to take the necessary on-farm measures to stay close to quota limits. I would encourage prudent management by farmers of their output in these final three months of the quota regime to help ensure that they enter the quota-free world with as little debt as possible. I am also continuing to work closely with other EU Ministers and with Commissioner Hogan to examine if measures can be taken at EU level to minimise the impact”.

View this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 07/2015 (pdf 115Kb) 

Date Released: 23 January 2015