In February, the Irish Farmers Journal exclusively revealed that Ornua was suspending the levy. It is taken from a dairy farmer’s milk cheque at a rate of 0.14c/l for each litre of milk produced. The levy totals €6m annually.

Ornua said that it will consider reapplying the levy should the purchase price index (PPI) remain at least 103 (30.5c/l) for three consecutive months.

However, speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Ornua CEO Kevin Lane confirmed that it is not planning on bringing back the levy. Lane said that farmers needed an opportunity to rebuild their finances after a difficult two years for the sector.

“There is no short-term plan to return it. Farmers need a period of better earnings. They need a period where they can get back and to make sure they are earning a living for their families. I think it would be a retrograde step, at least in the short term, to reintroduce that levy when they are only catching up and getting ahead of what has been a difficult 18 months.

Read the full interview with Kevin Lane in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal

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