asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he intends to take to reduce the seasonal imbalance between winter and summer milk production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Milk Production.
44.
The seasonal nature of our milk production pattern derives from the fact that the dairy industry is grass-based. This in turn results in the concentration of milk production during the grass growing season and a reduction in the seasonal imbalance depends primarily on the economics of producing milk outside that season. Such a reduction can be achieved by the further development of products capable of providing returns to producers sufficient to cover the extra costs involved in winter milk production. The main focus of Government policy on the milk sector is designed to encourage the production of products of this type.