Dairy aid programme under pressure as 52,000 EU farmers apply for milk funding
MORE than 52,000 farmers across the EU have applied for its £129 million dairy aid programme that will pay them the equivalent of 12.2p per litre to cut production over a three-month period.
Applications for the first round, which runs from Tuesday, November 1, to the end of January, account for 1.06 million tonnes of milk, meaning there will only be enough money left in the budget to fund a reduction of 11,400 tonnes in the second round and none for the final two rounds.
More than 1,800 UK farmers applied for the scheme, including almost one-fifth of all Scottish producers, or 154, who have signed up to reduce their milk production by more than 112,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
Early figures suggest the UK was one of the biggest applicants by volume for the scheme. Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 124 store heifers in Lockerbie on Tuesday to a top of 246.9p per kg and an average of 206p, while 341 store bullocks peaked at 257.6p and levelled at 226.6p.
Lawrie & Symington Ltd held their annual sale of draft Blackface ewes and gimmers in Lanark on Tuesday, when gimmers sold to £2,000 each for a pen of three from Hugh Alan, Blackwood, and averaged £164.29 (+£40.60 on the year) for 1,340 sold.
Ewes peaked at £720 for a pen of 10 from Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, and averaged £90.35 (+£7.82) for 3,292 sold.
C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 6,316 store lambs forward at their weekly sale in Longtown on Tuesday, including 1,708 Cheviots and 1,585 Blackfaces. Top prices and averages for selected breeds: Hill Cheviots to £64 and averaged £53.65 (+£6.52 on the week); North Country Cheviots £61 and £51.78 (+59p); Blackfaces £53 and £39.56 (+59p); Texels £74.50 and £60.45 (+£2.40); Suffolks £72 and £59.99 (+£2.21); Greyfaces £64.50 and £53.02 (-£3.61).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 10 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1,243 per head and 228p per kg (twice) to average £1,121.43 and 218.8p, while six prime bullocks peaked at £1,395 and 225p to level at £1,270.23 and 192.2p. Three prime bulls sold to £1,193.80 and 188p to level at £1,177.33 and 186.4p.
In the rough ring, 86 beef cows sold to £1,190 and 172.4p to average 122.8p, while 120 dairy cows peaked at £960 and 127p to level at 87.6p. Nine bulls sold to £1,200 and 153.9p to level at 102p. A larger show of 21 dairy cattle sold to £1,620 for a Holstein Friesian heifer and averaged £1,109.