Vol. 502 No. 3
217 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 9 March 1999, the disadvantages which would arise from the introduction of a milk quota calendar year; if all farming organisations share his view on this matter; when the issue was last investigated by his Department in conjunction with the farming organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8010/99]
The retention of the current milk quota year was reviewed by the Milk Quota Review Group and the group considered that the current quota year, 1 April to 31 March, has certain advantages over a system based on the calendar year. Among these advantages are the following: since the volume of milk deliveries rises towards year end, a small percentage adjustment can have a significant effect in helping producers to remain within their quotas – the opposite is the case for 1 January-31 December quota year; there are many more calves born in February and March than in the autumn giving a good opportunity to dispose of surplus milk as feed; farmers trying to reduce deliveries towards the end of the calendar year would be more likely to dispose of surplus cows as cull cows while in the current regime they are more likely to calve down in spring – a change could therefore have a negative impact on the beef sector; fresh milk required during the winter period could be adversely affected by a change in quota year.
The Milk Quota Review Group, which is made up of representatives of the farming organisations, the dairy industry and technical advisers, has in recent months reviewed all aspects of the operation of the quota regime in Ireland but no recommendation has been made by the group to seek a change in the current quota year.
