Scottish dairy farmers risk losing out on EU aid money

Scottish dairy farmers run the risk of missing out on valuable EU dairy aid scheme money – and NFU Scotland (NFUS) is urging them to act now.

The deadline is 1 May, but only one in five of Scottish dairy farmers have applied for payments so far.

The highest payment rate in the Scottish scheme is £4,000 and is available to farmers on Bute, Arran, Mull and the Kintyre peninsula.  

See also: 1,800 dairy farmers apply for 2016 EU dairy reduction scheme

Farmers who were paid a milk price of less than 20p/ litre during 2016 can receive £3,250. Farmers who were receiving below 25p/litre could get £2,000 each and farmers who received 25p/litre or more can receive £1,000.

NFUS milk policy manager George Jamieson said: “Scottish dairy farmers cannot afford to miss out on the financial support currently available to them through this scheme.

I urge them to crack on with applying before 1 May. With feed and fertiliser prices rising and milk prices levelling off, this is money that will be welcome to all.”

The aid package was presented in July 2016 by the EU Commission to incentivise farmers to scale back production amid an oversupply of milk and a farmgate price crisis.

The Scottish allocation is £2.4m, which Scottish ministers have decided to allocate entirely to dairy farmers.

You can find application forms the Rural Payments website (PDF).

For more advice and guidance on the scheme contact the Scottish Dairy Hub or phone 03454 755 110, or 07500 766 083 or email info@scottishdairyhub.org.uk.