DAIRY farmers can now apply for EU funding to support them implement key on-farm management tools.

In 2016 the EU Commission set aside £350 million to be shared out between each member state in order to contribute to market stabilisation. The UK was allocated £25m, with Scotland receiving £2.4m.

The funding is targeted towards the hardest hit dairy farmers by encouraging the widespread uptake of milk recording and production profiling techniques, which provide dairy farmers with the information required to help make informed business decisions.

The highest payment rate, £4,000, will be made available to farmers on Bute, Arran, Mull, and the Kintyre peninsula to protect the supply base for Campbeltown creamery. Farmers who were paid less than 20p per litre (ppl) during 2016 will receive £3,250, producers who were under 25ppl will get £2,000 each, while those who received 25ppl or more will receive £1,000.

Meanwhile, because of compulsory changes to the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) by the European Commission, it is proposed that hill farmers and crofters in Scotland's most fragile and remote areas will receive a parachute payment in 2018 of 80 per cent of their LFASS rate. Changes are required as EU Rural Development Regulations do not permit the continuation of the scheme unchanged after this year.

Market round-up

Wallets Marts sold 149 store heifers in Castle Douglas yesterday to a top of £1140 per head and 251.7p per kg to average £865.40 and 222.4p (+1.3p on the fortnight), while 275 store bullocks peaked at £1275 and 273p to level at £981.15 and 229.5p (-4.9p).

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 48 prime heifers in St Boswells yesterday to a top of 250p and an average of 220p (+6p on the week), while 9 prime bullocks peaked at 246p and levelled at 212p (+14p). A couple of prime bulls sold to 173p and averaged 160p.

In the rough ring 30 beef cows sold to 207p and averaged 140p (+12p).

There were also 1693 prime hoggs that sold to £100 per head and 230.3p per kg to average £81.20 and 176p (+11p).

The 321 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £121 for Texels and average £79, while light ewes peaked at £79 for Cheviots and levelled at £54.

The firm also sold 11 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday to a top of 223.5p and an average of 195.9p (-11.8p), while 21 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 215.5p and levelled at 190.4p (-7.6p). Three prime, dairy-bred bullocks sold to 164.5p and averaged 154.2p (+7p). Twenty-eight prime, beef-bred bulls sold to 226.5p and averaged 184.8p (+6.7p), while 42 prime, dairy-bred bulls peaked at 199.5p and levelled at 159.3p (+5.4p).

In the rough ring 70 beef cows sold to 210.5p and averaged 138.9p (-16.1p), while 187 dairy cows peaked at 167.5p and levelled at 105.1p (-2.4p). Five bulls sold to 163.5p and averaged 140.9p (+5.4p).

There were also 2087 prime hoggs that sold to £104.80 and 273.2p to average 185.4p (+11.2p).

A small show of 43 heavy ewes sold to £107.50 for Texels and averaged £84.23.

Lawrie & Symington Ltd sold 17 prime heifers in Lanark yesterday to a top of 248p and an average of 231.2p (+2.1p), while 12 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 233p and levelled at 213.6p (+3.1p). Eleven prime, B&W bullocks sold to 141.5p and averaged 136.4p (no change).

In the rough ring 38 beef cows averaged 124p (-4p) and 35 dairy cows levelled at 95p (+4p).

The firm also sold 2826 prime hoggs to a top of £97 and 219.3p to average 179.3p (+13.5p).

The 459 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £155.50 for a Texel and average £82.69, while light ewes peaked at £75.50 for a Blackface and levelled at £45.97.

ENDS