As Ireland is likely to noticeably miss its climate targets, drastic measures are being considered: livestock needs to be significantly reduced, and killing up to 200,000 dairy cows is being considered. Farmers must be compensated.
The government is committed to providing farmers with “voluntary, financially attractive options, including diversification,” said an Agriculture Ministry spokeswoman. The industry is “the crowning achievement of the entire agricultural and food sector” and already has a high level of sustainability. This ambition must be broadened.
“Around 65,000 dairy cows a year should be taken off the market in 2023, 2024 and 2025,” the Irish Independent quotes an internal ministry newspaper as saying. This must be done through clearances. Farmers can receive 3,000 euros in compensation per cow. That will be 200 million euros annually in 2025.
No final decision yet
The document is “part of a consultation process” and belongs to several options, the ministry spokeswoman said. “It is not a final political decision.”
The Irish Milk Suppliers Association, feeling left out, has called for such a scheme to be voluntary. There are approximately 18,000 dairy farmers in Ireland with over 7 million head of cattle. 1.55 million of these are dairy cows.
Source: Krone
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