Under the EU's Milk Production Reduction Scheme, farmers applied to reduce production by a total of 1,029m litres during the period covering October-December 2016. However, applications for payment, which needed to be made in the first week of February, fell short of the volumes originally indicated in September 2016.
Applications for payment were submitted for only 80 per cent of this, amounting to 827m litres. In the UK, farmers applied for 109m litres of reduced volume as part of the scheme, equivalent to 3 per cent of the previous year's production. However, applications for payment amounted to only 87m litres, 80 per cent of the volume originally applied for.
The money not used as part of the €150m earmarked for the targeted reduction of 1.04m litres "will remain available for agricultural expenditure and will finance other market measures that may prove necessary in the sector", DG-Agri officials add.
Market round-up
United Auctions sold 350 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 297.7p per kg and an average of 219.8p (+1.5p on the week), while 766 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 267.1p and levelled at 227p (-0.4p). One-hundred-and-thirty-six store, B&W bullocks sold to 185.8p and averaged 148.6p (+15.8p).
C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 6 prime heifers in Dumfries to a top of 226p and an average of 207.3p, while a prime bull fetched 131p.
In the rough ring 22 beef cows sold to £1192 per head and 154p per kg to average 126.5p, while 29 dairy cows peaked at £1074 and 132p to level at 112.5p.
The firm also sold 503 prime hoggs to a top of £86.50 and 202p to average 173.6p (+1.8p).
A nice show of 326 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £119.50 for Texels and average £76.45 (-£4.91), while light ewes peaked at £73.50 for Cheviots and levelled at £55.12 (+£7.87).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1453 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £87.20 and 187p to average 170.8p (+11.8p). Included in that overall average were 993 Blackfaces that peaked at £82.50 and 178.4p to level at 170p (+13p).
There were also 353 cast sheep forward that met a dearer trade on the week with ewes selling to £99 for Texels, £86.50 for Mules and £67 for Blackfaces.
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