There has been a sharp surge in the production of milk on Irish farms since the abolition of EU milk quotas at the start of last month.
Official milk statistics published today by the Central Statistics Office show milk output increased by 14% in April compared with the same month last year.
The milk quotas which had been in place since 1984 had limited the overall production of milk in Ireland for the previous 31 years.
The expansion in milk output that is now happening is expected to result in a very significant boost throughout the rural economy.
The IFA's National Dairy Committee Chairman Sean O'Leary said the longer term trends will now depend on the profitability of milk production, which is currently being challenged by considerably weaker milk prices.
The Government believes that as many as 10,000 direct and indirect jobs could eventually result throughout the Irish economy due to all the extra output resulting from the ending of Milk quotas.
The CSO said that in April milk sold for human consumption fell by 1.9% to 36.2 million litres. Butter production was up 15.3% to 19,900 tonnes.
