Levy rates charged by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board will remain unchanged for the majority of producers during the coming year, ministers have confirmed.

The only change for the 2009-10 financial year will be to the English pig sector, where the former producer levy rate is being reinstated, following a 10p per head reduction during 2008-09. The total amount paid by producers will increase from 75p to 85p per pig, with the additional 20p processor levy remaining unchanged.

The move follows a stabilisation of the pig market after serious problems caused by high feed costs in 2008 and will take effect from 6 April.

BPEX chairman Stewart Houston said: “Since [last year] the market has improved, though it would be wrong to believe everything in the garden is rosy. The money will be used by BPEX to implement its strategy to help create a sustainable and profitable future for the English industry.”

Statutory levies charged by the other five boards – DairyCo, EBLEX, HDC, HGCA, PCL – will be used to help improve the efficiency and competitiveness of each sector.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008 requires AHDB to raise levies relating to each sector and for DEFRA and devolved administration ministers to annually approve all proposed levy rates, including higher rates for late payment of levy (the late payment rate is set at 10% above standard rate).

Click here to see the levy rates for the 2009/10 financial year.