Welsh dairy farmers can qualify for payment of £1800, deadline soon

Dairy farmers can qualify for a payment of £1800 per business
Dairy farmers can qualify for a payment of £1800 per business

Dairy farmers are being reminded that applications for the EU Conditional Aid Scheme for milk producers in Wales will close at midnight on 30th June 2017.

Dairy farmers can qualify for a payment of £1800 per business, which will be made by the end of September this year.

Following the announcement of the EU hardship fund last year, farming union NFU Cymru urged the Welsh Government that the importance of the scheme should give every dairy producer in Wales the opportunity to access it.

As it is a conditional aid scheme, there are conditions set out by the EU as to how the £3.1 million allocated to Wales can be used.

Aled Jones, NFU Cymru Dairy Board Chairman said: “Given these conditions I feel that this scheme is probably the best outcome that could have been achieved to meet that aspiration.

“Farmers participating in the scheme will get a report identifying their business strengths and any weaknesses with a comparison against industry performance indicators. I would hope that this will have benefits for the farm business, as the information will help focus the interventions that a farmer should prioritise to improve business performance.

“I realise that many dairy producers will have already completed your forms but for those of you who are yet to do so, there is no time to waste as the deadline for submission is midnight on 30th June 2017.

“Depending on uptake, participating farmers who have or are committing to having a milk recording contract on their farms, will potentially qualify for further support. We are waiting for further details on this and expect to receive them next month.”