16 March 2011

Dairy farmers affected by herd movement restrictions can apply now for their annual Temporary Reallocation of Milk Quota (TRQ).

Application forms are available from the Rural Payments Agency and the deadline for submitting them for the 2010/2011 quota year is Tuesday, 3 May 2011.

The TRQ is designed to provide help to dairy farmers affected by herd movement restrictions imposed due to the outbreak of, for example, TB and brucellosis. It is based on the principle that movement restrictions will prohibit the sale of newly calved heifers, so a producer may have little option but to add these heifers to the dairy herd. The retention of surplus stock may lead to producers exceeding their milk quota.

Producers whose milk deliveries have exceeded their quota can apply for a reallocation of milk quota to partly offset the difference. 

If there are a large number of applicants, the amounts producers receive may be a proportion of the quota for which they are eligible.  This is because there is a fixed amount of quota available nationally for reallocation.

Producers in England, Wales and Scotland can get the application form (MQ/16) and additional details from either the Milk Quotas Helpline on  01392 266466 or online at rpa.defra.gov.uk under the link ‘Milk Quotas’ – ‘Forms’.  Producers in Northern Ireland should contact DARD on 028 9052 4815.