ICMSA president Pat McCormack says the Government has completely failed to protect the dairy sector and now forecasts a drop in farm revenue of €2B this year.
The sector is suffering from a drop in price paid by processors for milk in addition to now facing restrictions on production due to the reduction in Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation.
Mr McCormack is sharply critical of the Government’s failure to make a better case to the European Commission as regards the range of changes implemented by farmers to protect water quality.
The dairy farmer, based just outside Tipperary town, questions if the Government ever intended to defend the existing derogation – as Minister McConalogue did not travel to Brussels to discuss the decision to lower the rate from 250kg/hectare to 220kg/hectare on January 1st.
To comply with the new limit – farmers must acquire extra land or reduce livestock numbers.
