Wednesday, 29 July 2026 11:25

Irish Dilemma

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: The Irish dairy sector is facing a new dilemma - maintaining year-round fresh milk supplies.

Ireland's registered liquid milk producers fell by 32 to 1196 in 2024, leaving just 7% of the country's dairy farmers supplying the liquid milk market.

Media reports say registered liquid milk supplies declined 4% to 424 million litres, while annual fresh milk consumption fell by 8 million litres (1%) to 564 million litres.

Industry leaders attribute the ongoing contraction to economic pressures, labour shortages, changing lifestyles and the stronger appeal of seasonal milk production, making year-round supply increasingly difficult to sustain. It's part of a broader trend that the UK's ability to read itself is waning.

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