Some dairy farmers in England are to get a hardship payment worth up to £10,000 to cover 70% of lost income during April and May due to coronavirus.
Making the announcement, Defra secretary of state George Eustice confirmed that eligible farmers must have seen their income reduced by more than 25% over these months.
It is understood that the aid is specifically targeted at around 550 farmers who have been hit with big price reductions, or had to dump milk, since the start of the crisis.
During a briefing session with MPs on Tuesday, NFU president Minette Batters highlighted that around one-third of UK dairy farmers had been impacted by the closure of foodservice outlets, of which 1,000 have been seriously hit.
“We are hoping for a hardship payment for those most impacted this week. There are a lot on 15p/l. It is not sustainable, and really critical for some farms who are hanging on by the skin of their teeth,” she told MPs.
For dairy farmers in NI, despite industry lobbying for a specific aid package, it remains to be seen whether Westminster will come up with any funds. Sources indicate that the ideal scenario would be that the UK government allocates NI a pot of money, to be used across the sectors as they see fit.
We can’t keep working for nothing, and after the last crash, farmers cannot afford to take on any more debt
In the meantime, local farms are unable to access the hardship money coming this week. Part of the issue is that the entire dairy industry in Britain has not been hit by big price reductions, so the lobbying isn’t there for widespread support. Farmers with aligned supermarket contracts continue to be paid around 30p/l, while many of the big players are paying over 25p/l out to the middle of the summer.
In NI, average prices are already behind Britain, and processors have generally been talking the price down further.
“We can’t keep working for nothing, and after the last crash, farmers cannot afford to take on any more debt. If price goes towards 20p/l, we just can’t produce milk for that. People will have to get out, unless there is government support,” Waringstown dairy farmer Charlie Weir told the Irish Farmers Journal.
£1m campaign
Meanwhile, a £1m campaign has been launched across the UK to boost milk consumption, funded jointly by AHDB, Defra, the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, NI Executive and Dairy UK.
Read more
Eustice turns down farm lobby request
New funding option for crisis aid
Some dairy farmers in England are to get a hardship payment worth up to £10,000 to cover 70% of lost income during April and May due to coronavirus.
Making the announcement, Defra secretary of state George Eustice confirmed that eligible farmers must have seen their income reduced by more than 25% over these months.
It is understood that the aid is specifically targeted at around 550 farmers who have been hit with big price reductions, or had to dump milk, since the start of the crisis.
During a briefing session with MPs on Tuesday, NFU president Minette Batters highlighted that around one-third of UK dairy farmers had been impacted by the closure of foodservice outlets, of which 1,000 have been seriously hit.
“We are hoping for a hardship payment for those most impacted this week. There are a lot on 15p/l. It is not sustainable, and really critical for some farms who are hanging on by the skin of their teeth,” she told MPs.
For dairy farmers in NI, despite industry lobbying for a specific aid package, it remains to be seen whether Westminster will come up with any funds. Sources indicate that the ideal scenario would be that the UK government allocates NI a pot of money, to be used across the sectors as they see fit.
We can’t keep working for nothing, and after the last crash, farmers cannot afford to take on any more debt
In the meantime, local farms are unable to access the hardship money coming this week. Part of the issue is that the entire dairy industry in Britain has not been hit by big price reductions, so the lobbying isn’t there for widespread support. Farmers with aligned supermarket contracts continue to be paid around 30p/l, while many of the big players are paying over 25p/l out to the middle of the summer.
In NI, average prices are already behind Britain, and processors have generally been talking the price down further.
“We can’t keep working for nothing, and after the last crash, farmers cannot afford to take on any more debt. If price goes towards 20p/l, we just can’t produce milk for that. People will have to get out, unless there is government support,” Waringstown dairy farmer Charlie Weir told the Irish Farmers Journal.
£1m campaign
Meanwhile, a £1m campaign has been launched across the UK to boost milk consumption, funded jointly by AHDB, Defra, the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, NI Executive and Dairy UK.
Read more
Eustice turns down farm lobby request
New funding option for crisis aid
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