Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

What most farmers are concerned about is how the Minister's statement will translate into their monthly milk cheque. At a price of 20 cent a litre, it is a loss-making enterprise for farmers. Will what the Minister has achieved deliver 26 cent a litre, which is the target figure for profitable milk production? Anything less than that will not bring any comfort to the dairy sector which for many years has been the real engine of the agri-economy at the farm gate and in the processing sector. We need to know if the Minister is delivering something tangible or if he is delivering the status quo, which is prices below the cost of production and financial ruin facing farmers and processors.

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