A historic day for local dairy farmers as milk quotas are finally lifted

The lifting of milk quotas overnight is being described as a great opportunity for dairy farmers.

The restrictions were lifted at midnight after more than 30 years and the department of Agriculture says it will now allow Ireland to become the world’s fastest growing dairy producer over the next ten years – and lead to the creation of 10-thousand new jobs over the next five years.

It means farmers across Carlow and Kilkenny can now expand their dairy herds, milk production and make more money in the process.

Glanbia Ingredients recently opened a new processing plant in Belview Port which was built in anticipation of the quotas being removed and is producing milk powders for the foreign markets.