There is a growing realisation at farm level that steps must be taken to ensure our dairy processing sector is fit for purpose in a post-quota era.

As Pat O’Keeffe reports on page 12, the IFA this week sent a strong warning to the management and boards of co-ops that it expects collaboration to ensure both processing efficiency and milk prices are maximised.

Our five-week analysis of the dairy processing sector by Jack Kennedy and Eoin Lowry clearly showed the ability to deliver a leading milk price to be directly linked to the financial performance of the co-op.

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As investment at farm level increases and the traditional quota walls crumble, the ability of individual co-ops to deliver both will come under intense scrutiny.

Farmers on the ground will force change in the absence of leadership.

This will inevitably prove much more painful in the long term.