Milk producers reminded of dairy aid funding deadline

Just over half of Scotland’s milk producers have applied for dairy aid funds worth between £1,000 and £4,000.

Applications close on Monday for a share of the £2.4 million European money allocated in the wake of the dairy sector crisis.

Under the terms of the Scottish scheme, the highest payment rate, £4,000, is available to farmers in the isolated milk fields in Bute, Arran, Mull, and the Kintyre peninsula.

Farmers who were paid a milk price of less than 20p per litre during 2016 can receive £3,250, farmers who were receiving under 25p could get £2,000 each, while those who received 25p per litre or more can receive £1,000.

As the scheme is linked to improving efficiency, producers must commit to simple production profiling and milk recording to qualify.

An estimated two-thirds of Scottish dairy herds already milk record on a regular basis.

NFU Scotland’s milk policy manager, George Jamieson, said: “Given the fragile state of our dairy sector, funding of between £1,000 and £4,000 is available.

“With feed and fertiliser prices rising, and milk prices levelling off, this is money that will be welcome to all.

“To secure those funds, Europe has insisted that producers commit to actions that will help them cope with future market volatility.

“The Scottish Government, in consultation with industry stakeholders including NFUS, agreed that simple production profiling and milk recording are appropriate.

“These both offer opportunities to manage, with more certainty, milk production in line with market needs, and create a vast amount of data that will be useful to the farmer and the sector.

“We urge those still to apply to get a copy of the application form, read the guidance and apply.”