More than half of the 6,000 over-quota dairy farmers have signed up to the superlevy instalment

Figures released to the Irish Farmers Journal from the Department of Agriculture confirmed that 3,700 farmers are partaking in the scheme.

The Department rolled out the superlevy instalment scheme to aid cashflow for farmers who were over quota at the end of the final quota year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 6,000 farmers had to share a superlevy bill of €69m for being over quota. The exposure ranged from under €1,000 to in the region of €100,000.

With over 40% of farmers choosing not to take part in the scheme, it can be assumed that these farmers had little exposure.

Under the terms of the instalment scheme, the superlevy is spread over three years, with the farmer making repayments to their co-op.

Some Irish co-ops have already commenced collecting superlevy payment. At least one third of a farmer’s superlevy bill must be paid before 1 October 2015, with the second and third payments following in the subsequent years.

Farmers wanting to partake in the scheme had to apply to their co-op before 30 June, the co-ops then had to submit the numbers to the Department by 15 July.

Glanbia, with 1,704, had the highest number of farmers who availed of the scheme.

The next highest number of farmers is from Dairygold with 550, followed by Lakeland with 360, Kerry with 293.

Arrabawn has 208 suppliers using the scheme, 90 from Aurivo decided to join the scheme and the number from Centenary Thurles is understood to be over 20.

In west Cork, Lisavaird has 50 taking up the scheme and Barryroe has 90.

Town of Monaghan has no superlevy exposure.

At the time of going to print, the Irish Farmers Journal was unable to get a response from Tipperary co-op as well as Drinagh and Bandon co-ops.