UK dairy farmers will receive a one-off support payment linked to milk production to help with cash-flow problems caused by volatile prices, Defra has confirmed.
Ministers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales had flexibility about how to allocate their share of the UK’s £26.2 million overall direct aid package but all have opted to pay in line with England.
The united approach across the UK will make it easier for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to adopt a standard method of payment and ensure aid reaches farmers’ bank accounts in December.
The UK’s overall direct support package is the third largest of all the member states.
In Scotland dairy farmers will share £2.3m. In England, dairy farmers will share £15.5m in recognition of the prolonged period of low prices in this particular farming sector. Northern Ireland was given a boosted allocation – worth £5.1m – in recognition that Northern Irish farmers have been suffering from some of the lowest prices across Europe.
UK Farming Minister George Eustice said: “We recognise that many dairy farmers in the UK are suffering financially at the moment and the support will offer some relief.
“Dairy farmers are a vital part of our £100billion food and farming industry and I’m pleased to confirm that ministers across the Union have agreed to distribute the aid in the simplest way – linked to milk production - to ensure the RPA can get this money into farmers’ bank accounts promptly."
“In England and Wales, the one-off payment for an average-sized dairy farm would come out at around £1,800 per farmer.
“In Northern Ireland farmers will be allocated, on average, just short of £2,000. In Scotland, because they have larger dairy units on average, it will be just over £2,500.”
Meanwhile, work continues on a host of measures to improve the long-term stability of the dairy industry. The UK farming minister is attending the world’s largest food and drink fair, Anuga, in Cologne, this week to promote British food and farming exports – worth over a billion pounds over the past two years.
The Environment Secretary will also lead a trade delegation to China next month – including eight British dairy businesses - to promote quality British products to this growing market. The visit is part of Defra’s commitment to expand export market opportunities for UK farmers.
