Ireland is 6.51% over-quota at the end of November, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has confirmed.

The figures takes into account the relevant buttefat adjustment and is a decrease on the end-October figure of 7.15%. However it is significantly above the 1.38% over-quota position of this time last year.

Commenting on the figure, Minister Coveney said he is aware of the different factors which have facilitated milk production this year, "but it remains critically important that individual farmers take account of their milk quotas in managing their enterprises, in this final year of quotas".

The Minister noted that the monthly intake of milk in November was down 13% on the same month last year, which he said suggests farmers are "rapidly taking on-farm measures to reduce their exposure to potential superlevy payments.

"I would encourage continued prudent management by farmers of their output in these final few months of the quota regime”.