Over 2,100 applications were received for the Small Dairy Farmer Scheme in NI, a DAERA spokesperson has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal.

The one-off payment to dairy farmers with under 1m litres of annual production, is being rolled out to use up leftover funds from NI’s £4.1m allocation of EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid (EAA).

The DAERA spokesperson said that it will be later in summer before the final budget for the scheme is known.

“The final rate of payment to NI farmers cannot be confirmed until we have calculated the amount of funding remaining from the £4.1m NI EAA allocation after the needs of the other measures have been met,” the spokesperson said. However, previous estimates suggest that at least £1.5m could be available. On that basis, the average applicant to the scheme could expect a payment of around £715.

Tony O’Neill retires from Dunbia

The deputy chief executive of Dunbia, Tony O’Neill, is to step down after three years with the Dungannon-based company. O’Neill joined Dunbia in 2014, having previously worked as business development director with Moy Park.

In recent times, he has been tasked with driving forward a new ownership model for Dunbia which recently saw Dunbia and Dawn Meats announcing they are to form a new joint venture in the UK under the Dunbia banner.

While O’Neill is retiring, he will continue with his chairmanship of the Agri-Food Strategy Board. It recently received a further extension to the end of August 2017, and continues to work on a number of initiatives, including a new marketing organisation.

The NI Food Marketing Association has been established as a legal entity, with industry members of the Agri-Food Strategy Board listed as directors. In the meantime, it is understood that O’Neill will chair this new body, as discussions continue with the Department for the Economy on how it will be funded.