asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that at this time of the year farmers in the creamery areas generally draw up their annual farm programmes and milk prices are an important factor in determining the size of the dairy herd, he will now give some indication of the creamery milk price prospects for 1970.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Prices.
3.
So far as Exchequer support for creamery milk is concerned, I have nothing to add to what was very recently announced. As regards the other element which affects price, namely the net market returns secured by creameries from sales of their various products, it is rather early to forecast trends in 1970 but at this stage there seems no reason to expect any appreciable change.
Can the Minister give any clear indication of what the price is likely to be for the coming season? Has he in mind changing the present price structure for the coming season? Milk producers are anxious to have this information.
No. Market trends for 1970 are, I am afraid, pretty difficult to forecast with any degree of certainty at this stage, but the implications are that there will not be any appreciable change in market trends during the coming year. In so far as the other major factor in milk price structuring is concerned, namely, Exchequer support, I cannot see any major restructuring of that arrangement at this stage.
Can I take it there will not be an increase in the price of milk delivered to creameries in the coming year?
I can only project what may happen in so far as Government intervention is concerned. I cannot project with any certainty what the market trends may be or what the various producers may succeed in getting on the various markets throughout the world. Therefore I cannot say with certainty that there will be no increase, any more than I can say that prices obtainable abroad may not decrease.