EU member states are today reviewing the details of new measures outlined in Brussels this week at a meeting of the EU Council of Agricultural Ministers.

There was some good news for Irish dairy farmers as new measures were introduced to increase the volume of skim and butter product that can be temporarily taken off the market and go into EU intervention. However, there was no rule change on a deferral of previous superlevy fines or the removal of fertiliser tariffs which would benefit all farmers.

A new measure which allows EU member states to introduce a national milk quota is unlikely to be available in Ireland. Speaking in Brussels, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said it is one issue Irish farmers are not looking for at the moment. However, the new measure looks set to be introduced in France.

Speaking exclusively to the Irish Farmers Journal, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan suggested EU structural reform is not on the agenda and suggested EU and global farmers will respond to lower milk prices by reducing supply over time. He said: “It’s going to be very difficult because any measures we bring in are temporary and voluntary. Member states have to have their own national plans. It’s a shared approach – you can’t expect Europe to do everything.”

Fertiliser levies

On the possible suspension of fertiliser import levies, Commissioner Hogan expressed some optimism. He said: “The issue was raised by a number of ministers today – England, Denmark, Ireland and indeed some of the countries that produce fertiliser such as Poland and France spoke in favour of suspending the levy.”

When questioned on how soon it might happen, Hogan said: “If it is to happen it will be a number of months. There is work ongoing in other departments refining how it might work.”