Production costs on winter milk farms have increased by 24% since 2021, Denis Murphy chair of the National Milk Agency has highlighted.

While the National Milk Agency has said that it is concerned that the number of registered producers has reduced by 836 producers or 41% since 2013/14 - the total annual milk supplies of registered producers in 2023/24 were the same as in the 10-year period prior.

The continuing panel of registered producers has been able to increase their annual supplies by 49% and their supplies for liquid consumption by 38% following the abolition of EU milk quotas in 2015, according to its annual report.

However, a further 118 winter milk producers have exited in the current 2024/25 milk year. This, according to the National Milk Agency, is mainly due to restructuring schemes.