New grant available... but don't get too excited!

The Farming Ammonia Reduction Grant Scheme is now open for applications

DEFRA have finally announced details of how they will spend the pot of money they currently have available for investment in Agriculture, but it’s nothing to get too excited about I’m afraid!

The grant is called the ‘Farming Ammonia Reduction Grant Scheme’ and will contribute towards the cost of covering existing slurry stores. £61/m2 is available for self supporting slurry store covers, or £11.20/m2 for floating covers.

That’s it I’m afraid, the grant won’t be covering anything else.

There are some of you that this could potentially be useful for. Full details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/jyuata4

The applications are open now and close on 31 January. If you would like any help with your application please let us know as soon as possible.

EU Milk Reduction Scheme - Applications Open

The Milk Production Reduction Scheme is now open for applications.

The voluntary scheme will pay up to 12.23 pence per litre to reduce milk output in four reduction periods:

• 1 October to 31 December 2016

• 1 November 2016 to 31 January 2017

• 1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017

• 1 January to 31 March 2017

If you apply for the first reduction period, you can also apply for the fourth reduction period. Otherwise, you can only apply for a single reduction period. If the scheme is over-subscribed in one or more reference periods, the volume of milk eligible for payment will be reduced. If one of the reduction periods is full or oversubscribed, the remaining reduction periods will be cancelled. If this happens, all applications for the remaining reduction periods will be rejected. With this in mind, it makes sense to apply for the first reference period if you are going to apply, but even then you will not be guaranteed payment for all the litres you reduce by.

WHO CAN APPLY?

You can apply if you were selling milk in July 2016 and you were a milk producer in the reference period you’re applying for.

To apply, you must plan to reduce your cows’ milk deliveries by at least 1,457 litres (1,500kg) in the relevant reduction period. The maximum you can apply for is a 50% reduction of the cows’ milk you produced in the reference period (even if you plan to reduce milk deliveries by more than 50%).

The deadline for applications for the first period is 11 am on 21 September.

If you would like to discuss whether this scheme is worthwhile applying for on your farm, please contact Sam on 07777 696080 or email sam@kellyfarmconsulting.com

EU Milk Reduction Scheme

Dairy farmers in the UK could be paid up to 12 pence per litre to cut production

The announcement out of Brussels last week is part of a support package for farmers in the light of the current low prices, particularly for milk. The UK will receive a payment of around £25 million to be paid out in support payments.

The UK Government are yet to make a formal announcement, but it is likely that farmers will be given the option to sign up to a voluntary scheme to reduce milk production, with a payment of approx 12 pence per litre for every litre less produced this year compared to last year.

This scheme may will be of significant benefit to many of you, as it may provide an opportunity to send on cull cows earlier than planned, with a view to replacing them at the end of the scheme with younger cows.

We will continue to monitor the scheme and provide an update as soon as more detailed information is available.