The Board of Lakeland Dairies has called on the government to “plan to protect” the nitrates derogation.
Lakeland Dairies’ chair Niall Matthews said that “uncertainty” around the derogation has left farmers wondering what the future is for them.
“For us, it appears that there is no plan, there is no strategy in place to protect it. It is not all on farmers to protect what allows us to maximise our truly unique grass-based system.
“We aren’t like Germany, France or the Netherlands. We are unique and this needs to be recognised and protected,” Matthews said.
The board met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue at its monthly meeting yesterday (Thursday, April 11).
Lakeland Dairies meeting
Topics discussed included the nitrates derogation, along with the VAT debate and encouraging the next generation of farmers to take up dairying as a profession.
“The dairy industry is the jewel in the crown of a balanced regional economy and its importance in this regard cannot be overestimated,” Matthews said.
Following the meeting, Matthews described confidence in the dairy sector at the moment as “especially low” with persistent wet weather and regulatory pressures.
“The Irish dairy industry is going through one the greatest periods of evolution in its history.
“The co-operative movement has shown its agility and strength since the removal of quotas to become a real powerhouse on the global stage,” Matthews said.
“After a decade of significant growth driven by a latent demand at farm level to expand, which was supported by farmers’ co-ops, the next decade will see less expansion.
“That is why government must continue to back and support our multi-billion-euro industry.