Milk Quota Trading Scheme opened up to nieces and nephews

NIECES and nephews are now eligible to receive milk quota from former producers under the new Milk Quota Trading Scheme, unveiled yesterday by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney.

The decision to extend the priority pool successor eligibility from sons and daughters is the only significant change in the new quota scheme, for which the closing date for receipt of applications will be Friday, October 7. This is the first of two schemes for the 2012/2013 milk quota year.

Mr Coveney said: “The review with the farming organisations and ICOS has made it clear that the structure of the Milk Quota Trading Scheme does not require radical alteration this year. I have, therefore, decided to leave the main elements unchanged. For example, the priority pool price remains at 5c per litre, and the national redistribution mechanism for partially unsold quota, which was made available but not used last year, remains in place in respect of the 2012/2013 Scheme.”