Dairy Industry: Drought Relief Payment

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A decision made 19 December 2018:

Decision Reference: MD-E-2018-0050
Decision Summary Title :	Dairy Industry drought relief payment		Date of Decision Summary:	Date 12th December 2018
Decision Summary Author:	Rural Business Advisor Growth Housing and Environment		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Dairy Industry drought relief payment		Date of Written Report:	28th August 2018
Written Report Author:	Rural Business Advisor Growth Housing & Environment Department		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Dairy Industry: drought relief payment.
Decision(s): The Minister approved an additional total payment of £175,000 to assist with the import of increased feedstocks to replace winter feed stocks used to supplement the lack of grazing during the drought weather conditions. The above budget was to be distributed to individual dairy farms who currently qualify for Quality Milk Payments (QMP). It would be paid as a headage payment (per cow) based on herd numbers as recorded as at end of November 2018.
Reason(s) for Decision: The decision was made in recognition of the increased costs of imported feedstocks and the necessity of replacing winter feedstocks used to supplement the lack of summer grazing in order to maintain milk supplies and safeguard animal welfare over the coming Winter months. Individual dairy farmers require assistance owing to exceptional weather conditions experienced in Autumn 2017 and Spring/Summer 2018.
Resource Implications: The additional payment will be funded by £75,000 from budget allocated in the Rural Support Scheme (RSS) mechanisms for the agricultural industry and £100,000 allocated as additional funding for Dairy Drought Relief Support as approved by the Treasury Minister (MD-TR-2018-0131 refers).
Action required: Group Director Economy & Partnerships to action the additional payment of £175,000 as a supplementary QMP to the dairy industry.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed)