Despite the deadline passing for countries notifying the European Commission , countries had until Wednesday 21 September to notify the Commission of the uptake from each country. Farmers who decided to reduce their milk supply qualified for a payment of 14c/l. A minimum reduction of 1,500kg is required to receive the payment.

A total fund of €150m is available for all European countries. Industry sources suggest that the scheme may be over subscribed.

At the time of going to print, the Commission said applications were still being received and it could be a week before a clearer picture was available.

Meanwhile, Dutch dairy FrieslandCampina is making €15m available for its farmers who opt to voluntarily reduce production. It is paying 10c/l on top of the European scheme incentive of 14c/l.

It aims to reduce production by 150m kg from 1 October 2016 up to 31 March 2017.

In the Republic of Ireland, the deadline for farmers to notify their co-op was last Thursday. Some 1,331 Kerry supplies have applied for approximately 20m litres, or 11% of the co-op’s supply. Approximately 13% of Glanbia suppliers have applied for the voluntary reduction. Arrabawn and Lakeland had 190 and 100 applications respectively.

Dairygold said “slightly over 700 suppliers” applied, equating to “circa 11m litres”. Around one quarter of LacPatrick’s southern suppliers applied for the scheme, accounting for an estimated 1.5m litres.