Scheme details outlined for Dairy Response Fund
Written by Defra Press Office
There has been coverage this morning in the Yorkshire Post, Farmers Weekly, FamingUK, FoodManufacture.co.uk and Somerset County Gazette of our announcement that the new dairy response fund will open for applications on 18 June.
Following reduced demand for milk products as bars, restaurants and cafes have closed, this fund will help those dairy farmers most in need of support to sustain their business.
Qualifying farmers can apply for support to cover up to 70% of their losses due to coronavirus disruption across April and May, up to a total amount of £10,000 each.
We’re providing information now to help farmers prepare their applications, which should be submitted directly to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) from 18 June. The first payments will begin to be made from 6 July.
Farming Minister Victoria Prentis said:
“Our dairy farmers have a vital role to play in feeding the nation and we want to ensure they are fully supported at this difficult time.
“The application process for our new dairy fund will begin shortly, helping farmers who have suffered losses to get the financial assistance they need to keep production going.
“There is no cap set on the number of farmers who can receive this support or on the total funding available, and we will do everything we can to help our farmers at this time.”
The UK Government has also taken action to temporarily relax some elements of UK competition law to allow suppliers, retailers and logistics providers in the dairy industry to work more closely together, which has enabled many milk buyers to reroute their milk supplies to retailers and supermarkets.
Furthermore, the UK Government is supporting dairy farmers through the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Dairy UK’s £1 million promotional campaign as well, to help increase sales by encouraging the public to drink more milk.
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