Notwithstanding the objective of reducing dependence on commodity products and on intervention purchases, I insisted that a reasonable period of time should be provided for the dairy industry to re-orientate itself to a lower level of intervention availability. The original Commission proposal was for a ceiling of 30,000 tonnes per annum on intervention intake of butter and this would have been disruptive in the short term in that it would not have given the industry sufficient time to remodel its production base and have a larger product mix. Against enormous opposition, I managed to have the annual intervention ceiling significantly increased to 70,000 tonnes initially, reducing over five years to 30,000 tonnes. Overall, the agreement on milk is most satisfactory given that the milk quota regime has been extended to 2014-15. While many farmers were anxious about the future of the milk quota regime, they now know that it will be in place for the next ten years and can plan accordingly. A small price was paid in terms of intervention price reductions for that major objective which will play a key role in supporting the milk price until 2014-15.