UFU Welcomes Release Of EU Emergency Milk Fund
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has welcomed news that the UK Government is to draw down the European Union Emergency Milk Fund.
20 January 2010
1 minute read
UFU Deputy President John Thompson said: “This funding package was announced at the end of November and since then, the UFU has been calling upon the Government to draw down this funding as quickly as possible. This would be a much-welcomed boost to the Northern Ireland dairy industry which has been severely affected by the very low dairy prices in 2009 and would approximately mean an additional £10 per cow. Dairy farmers in Northern Ireland have suffered badly last year due to very low farm gate prices, therefore this money is badly needed.”
Prior to the Emergency Dairy Fund being drawn down, a Consultation process will take place which the UFU will contribute to. However, this process needs to be kept to a minimum as it would not be acceptable if bureaucracy delays the release of this money.
John Thompson explains; “The most effective way to be of any immediate relief to farmers is to pay out this money as soon as possible with minimum bureaucracy.”
“At the end of last year, we estimated that the UK dairy industry’s entitlement from the EU Emergency Dairy Fund to be €30m and, together with our counterparts in GB, we agree the money should be paid on production and be allocated to active farmers. This is what we will be requesting during the consultation period.”
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