Farmers in Ireland allowed use 2023 milk production figures for banding

Dairy farmers will be allowed to use their milk production for 2023 to determine which band they will be placed in for this year in the new Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). That’s according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), who met with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue today (Friday, February 17). Speaking after the meeting, ICMSA president Pat McCormack said that it was “hugely disappointing that the minister intends to push ahead with banding in 2023”. However, he also said that the minister confirmed to the ICMSA that farmers will be allowed to use their 2023 milk production on a ‘once-off’ basis to determine their band this year. “This will obviously be of use to farmers who may find themselves in Band 3 due to being slightly over the limit based on the three-year average or the 2022 figure,” McCormack said. Advertisement Under banding, dairy cows will be given an organic nitrogen figure based on milk yield. This will ...