The last time I checked the world had entered the 21st century; so here’s a pertinent question? Why does the IFA feel the need to bolster an archaic liquid milk system, which harks back to the early 20th century? Does it serve a useful purpose at all?

As far as I am aware milk is milk. Yes; there may have been a need for a bespoke liquid milk system back in the day when there was rampant TB across Ireland – and specifically-selected herds were required to minimise the spread of the disease.

But the advent of pasteurisation changed all of that, leaving us with the reality that the milk leaving every farm in Ireland is more than suitable for the liquid market.

I recognise the need for a winter milk pool in the country – to ensure there is enough of the ‘white stuff’ in the shops between the months of November and February. But all that’s needed to meet this requirement is for the co-ops to pay their farmer-suppliers a decent winter milk bonus.

This is what happens in Northern Ireland – and it’s an approach that seems to work quite well. It’s simply a case of pooling all the milk that is produced year-round and, then, drawing from this the milk that is required for the liquid market on a daily basis.

The IFA also seems to have a ‘serious bee in its bonnet’ about the activities of Strathroy Dairy. The business brings southern milk north for processing and then ships this same product back into the south – subsequent to pasteurisation and packaging. Personally, I take my hat off to the guys up in Co. Tyrone.

Despite the 18% drop in the value of Sterling against the Euro over the past 10 months, the company is still capable of paying a competitive milk price to its southern supply group. The milk is then hauled up north, at a cost, which is more than replicated when the product is subsequently delivered back into the south – in tubs, cartons and so.

Rather than continually casting a critical eye at the Strathroy model, the IFA should be lauding it as an additional, competing buyer of milk produced south of the border!