Dairy retirement scheme uptake will be low - McCormack

ICMSA president, Pat McCormack
ICMSA president, Pat McCormack

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) president, Pat McCormack believes that the uptake for the proposed Food Dairy Vision Group (FDVG) retirement scheme will be quite low, irrespective of the money that government makes available for it.

Pat McCormack told Agriland: “Pension schemes only work if they encourage generational change. And this is not within the remit of FDVG.

McCormack went on to say that government must target new, independent money to the finalise selection of proposals emanating from the FDVG.

“We don’t want to see a redirecting of CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] or other funds, that have already been earmarked for farm-related support measures," he said.

Significantly, the ICMSA president is not supporting the 35% reduction in nitrogen (N) fertiliser application rates also under discussion by FDVG members.

The group’s chair, Prof. Gerry Boyle, believes that the implementation of such a measure could make a major contribution to the attainment of climate change targets across agriculture as a whole.

“ICMSA is not up for the dairy sector doing a solo run on behalf of the entire farming industry,” McCormack further explained.

“First off, this is a very complex issue, requiring a buy-in from all the other farming sectors.

“The use of protected urea must be brought into this debate. As far as ICMSA is concerned, it should become the industry norm, where the application of nitrogen on grassland is concerned.

McCormack is adamant that dairy farmers will not agree to a direct 35% reduction in the use of nitrogen fertilisers.

“Yes, nitrogen fertiliser is part of the climate change narrative. But we must walk before we run, where this matter is concerned," he said.

“Dairy farming is up for a sensible deal on climate change. But government has a key responsibility to make significant funding available, in order to fully support the measures that are needed.”    

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