DAERA announces payment rates for small dairy farmer scheme

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs today announced details of payments for small dairy farmers in Northern Ireland, under the EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid (EAA) package.

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A Departmental spokesperson said: “£1.6m is being set aside to fund the Small Dairy Farmer scheme in Northern Ireland.  The rate of payment is 0.2 pence per litre.  This means that eligible farmers will receive an average payment of around £750. Payment is capped at 500,000 litres of production.”

The Small Dairy Farmer scheme, launched in May 2017, is the fourth element of the NI EAA package.  The scheme will help maximise spend against NI’s £4.1m allocation of EAA funding for the benefit of livestock farmers here. It closed for applications on 31 May 2017.

The Rural Payments Agency is administering the scheme on DAERA’s behalf and payments to eligible dairy farmers are expected to be made by 19 September 2017.

DAERA is also taking the opportunity to remind beef and dairy farmers that the BVD Persistently Infected (PI) Removal Incentivisation Scheme remains open until 30 September 2017. This scheme encourages the humane destruction of BVD PI calves within four weeks of an initial positive BVD test. Details of payment rates and how to apply are available on the LMC and AHWNI websites. In addition, farmers successful in their registration for the Soil Sampling and Analysis scheme should return their maps to AFBI within 14 days of the date of their notification letter.

All payments under EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid must be made by the Commission deadline of 30 September 2017. 

Notes to editors: 

1. 350million euros Exceptional Adjustment Aid was part of an EU Farm Support package announced in July 2016 to address the severe market difficulties affecting livestock farmers. The NI allocation of aid was £4.1million.

2. In November 2016, following consultation with stakeholders, DAERA announced a suite of measures for use of the NI allocation. These included:

• a scheme to incentivise the humane removal of BVD infected animals;
• a scheme to improve pig meat quality; and
• a scheme to help farmers manage soils and nutrients more effectively.

3. In addition, a Small Dairy Farmer Scheme operating in England under EAA was extended to Northern Ireland in May 2017.  Applicants had to:

• have had an annual cows’ milk production of up to and including 1,000,000 litres (or equivalent in kilograms) during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, and
• still be active in cows’ milk production.

4. Follow us on Twitter at @daera_ni

5. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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