EU change to Milk Quota

The EU will lift quotas on milk production. I read this today with sadness. More milk, more cows being impregnated, more calves being killed, more suffering, more pain. This sentence actually brought a tear to my eye.

Speaking before the deal was reached, French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier said he would “not allow the milk quotas to be scrapped without accompanying measures, precautions being taken”.

“Some would like to lift all restrictions on milk production. We know perfectly well that if we produce a lot more, the prices drop, and everyone loses.”

No mention of the animals being hurt and put through emotional torture. I have breastfed my children yet my children are mine to keep, to look after, to love.

Here is the rest of the article from the BBC.

The EU does not want to encourage farmers to over-produce

EU farm ministers have agreed to reform agricultural policy by shifting more subsidies away from production and liberalising the dairy market.

The deal on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy came on Thursday after protracted late-night talks.

More subsidies will be transferred to conservation rather than providing a safety net linked to farm production.

Milk quotas will be raised in the short term, but later scrapped. The measures will go into effect during 2009-2013.

The changes build on a major CAP reform enacted in 2003. The latest deal was reached by a qualified majority vote - it was not unanimous agreement, officials say.

The aim is to shift more funding into rural development and conservation measures, and away from the traditional incentives for farmers to produce.

All farms qualifying for a minimum of 5,000 euros (£4,208; $6,312) in annual EU subsidies will shift 5% of their EU money into rural development projects by 2012, on top of the 5% that is currently obligatory.

Reform of milk quotas has long been a thorny issue, with France and Germany especially voicing concerns about the plan to remove them altogether by 2014.