English COVID-19 Dairy Hardship Fund to open for applications from 18th June

DEFRA has confirmed that the COVID-19 dairy hardship fund announced on 6th May will open for applications from 18th June 2020. Up to £10,000 funding will be available for eligible dairy farmers to cover up to 70% of losses experienced during April and May due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To be eligible, dairy farmers need to show there was a reduction of 25% or more in the base price paid for their milk in April 2020 compared with February 2020.

Guidance and the application form should be published on the gov.uk website before 18th June, but potentially eligible farmers are being encouraged to get ready now by preparing details of production levels in February, April and May 2020.

The RPA expects to start making payments to eligible applicants from 6th July 2020.