Monday night’s RTÉ Prime Time programme looked at the ending of dairy quotas next April and concern about falling milk prices.

The report by Robert Shortt featured interviews with IFA Dairy Committee Chairman Sean O’Leary, Irish Farmers Journal Dairy Editor Jack Kennedy and Michael Hanley, CEO of Lakeland dairies.

In relation to dairy farmers considering expanding, the IFA’s Sean O’Leary said farmers needed to ask themselves whether they had the necessary finance, landbase, and capability to cope with price volatility.

Lakeland CEO Michael Hanley said despite price volatility, dairying would outperform every other farming sector over the next five to ten years.

Minister Simon Coveney told the program, when interviewed by Miriam O’Callaghan, that Ireland is aiming to increase its milk production by 50% post-quota. He said volatility in milk prices was the big danger. However he said falling milk prices will be a temporary phenomenon because of rising global demand for dairy products.

You can watch the RTÉ Prime Time programme here.