The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has warned that the dairy sector is heading for “utter chaos” with only a few weeks left to go until cow banding changes are added to farmer nitrates rules.

The Department of Agriculture plans to separate dairy herds into different nitrates bands determined by yield in January, with the move to have stocking rate implications for many dairy farmers.

The ICMSA has claimed that farmers have only a “vague understanding” of what this rule change will mean for their farm after its introduction, which is planned for January.

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It has sought that this date be pushed back to allow for further consultation on how the changes can be implemented in more farmer-friendly way.

“It's not going to be possible to reverse or unpick these decisions that were made in good faith and on the basis of existing regulations...[in time for the]...utter chaos beginning on 1 January in just three weeks,” the dairy group’s president Pat McCormack said.

Unworkable and disrespectful

McCormack commented that the manner in which farmers were informed of the rule changes by letter was “as unworkable as it was disrespectful”.

The ICMSA stated that notice should have been given to farmers of these changes the springtime before the new system would be introduced, to allow farmers to plan accordingly.

Its president also suggested that the Department’s plans to sign all farmers up to the highest band if they do not share co-op milk statements or ICBF data with the Department is “heavy handed”.

“Threatening people and this kind of bureaucratic extortion is never justified – particularly when it’s employed to cover up their own administrative deficiencies,” McCormack went on.

“Neither the farmer, nor the Department, nor the banding system itself is ready for the nitrate banding system to come into effect in 18 days.

The Department need to postpone the nitrate banding to allow themselves time to develop a proper and fair regime that will emerge from proper and fair consultation with farmer representatives that gives farmers sufficient time to adjust their farming practices if required.”

See this week's Irish Farmers Journal for the latest on nitrate banding rules and how they are set to impact your farm.