COMMITMENT TO HELP NORTH:
DAIRY FARMERS struggling in the face of the coronavirus lockdown will each be able to access up to £10,000 of support, the Government has announced.
The move comes after calls from farming leaders to help the sector, which has faced a slump demand for milk from restaurants, cafes and hotels. It has forced some farmers to pour away milk and has put businesses at risk of folding.
Many farmers have already rerouted milk supplies to retailers and supermarkets to meet increased demand in recent weeks from households.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Our dairy industry plays a crucial role in feeding our nation and we are doing all we can to ensure they are properly supported during this time.”
Farmers in England who have lost more than 25 per cent of their income during April and May due
to coronavirus disruptions will be eligible for the support, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.
They will be able to claim up to £10,000 to cover 70 per cent of lost income to ensure they can maintain production capacity without harming animal welfare.
A £1m campaign to get households drinking more milk, funded
by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Defra and Dairy UK, has also been launched.
The CLA’s president, Mark Bridgeman, said: “These grants will help overcome some of their financial losses, but the situation is urgent for many businesses so they must be straightforward to access and quick to pay out.”