Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she will take to halt the exodus of farmers from winter milk production to the liquid milk market. [21890/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the National Milk Agency, which has statutory responsibility to regulate the supply of milk for liquid consumption within the State, that the Agency has registered 1,756 contracts for the milk year 2007/2008 compared with 1,511 for the equivalent period in 2006/2007. Moreover, in the winter months of October 2006 to February 2007, when milk is least available, supplies of fresh milk exceeded consumption by 19%.

International prices for dairy products have been buoyant since the start of 2007, as a result of which producer prices have risen substantially. The price paid by dairies to producers for milk is exclusively a matter for negotiation between those parties. I am, however, satisfied that the number of registered contracts with the National Milk Agency will provide continuity in supplies of liquid milk for the future.