Milk Production Reduction Scheme: how to apply
The Milk Production Reduction Scheme provides money to milk producers who volunteer to reduce their cows’ milk deliveries.
Latest news
All application periods for this scheme have now ended.
You can claim for payments if RPA accepted your application to join the scheme.
You must send proof with your claim for payments.
For more information read the relevant sections below.
The total number of claims submitted to the RPA, in tranche one of the voluntary milk reduction scheme, was 1460 - of which 452 were from customers in Northern Ireland.
The current value of claims from Northern Ireland is £1,765,067.76. Please note - this is subject to the satisfactory conclusion of any outstanding inspections.
What is the Milk Production Reduction Scheme?
The scheme – which is voluntary – provides money to milk producers who reduce the amount of cows’ milk they deliver to first purchasers during a 3-month period, known as the ‘reduction period’. This is compared with the same 3-month period in the previous calendar year, known as the ‘reference period’.
There were 2 reduction periods:
- 1 October to 31 December 2016
- 1 November 2016 to 31 January 2017
You will be paid €14.00/£11.87 per 100 kg (€14.42/£12.23 per 100 litres) for the amount of cows’ milk eligible for payment. The exchange rate is that set by the European Central Bank on 31 August 2016.
Direct sales and milk from species other than cows are not part of the scheme.
Payments
The maximum reduction you can claim payment on is the amount that RPA confirmed to you.
Within this limit, RPA will pay you for the actual reduction in your deliveries of cows’ milk.
If you don’t reduce your milk deliveries sufficiently, we will reduce your payment. You will receive:
- the full payment if the actual reduction is 80% or more of the amount we confirmed
- 80% of the payment if the actual reduction is 50% or more, but less than 80% of the amount we confirmed
- 50% of the payment if the actual reduction is 20% or more, but less than 50% of the amount we confirmed
- no payment if the actual reduction is less than 20% of the amount we confirmed
Payment will be made direct to the bank account details RPA hold, normally within 90 days of the end of the reduction period. If your bank account details have recently changed, please contact the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301.
How to claim for payments
To claim for payment for the first reduction period (1 October to 31 December 2016), fill in form MPRS2 and make sure that RPA receives it after 31 December 2016 and before midnight 14 February 2017.
To claim for payment for the second reduction period (1 November 2016 to 31 January 2017), fill in form MPRS2 and make sure that RPA receives it after 31 January and before midnight 17 March 2017.
You must be registered for rural payments before RPA can make a payment to you.
Send proof with your claim
You must also send proof showing the total reduction in deliveries made during the relevant reduction period. As this forms part of your claim, you must send it with your claim form. Without this proof, your claim is incomplete and will be rejected.
Proof could be a copy of a milk cheque or purchaser statement for each of the relevant months. You can send photocopies.
If you no longer produce cows’ milk and therefore you don’t have either milk cheques or purchaser statements, RPA will accept a letter from your purchaser confirming that no cows’ milk was delivered during one or more of the reduction months.
Where to send forms and proof
Send your completed form and proof to:
Milk Production Reduction Scheme
Rural Payments Agency
Room 151
Lancaster House
Hampshire Court
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7YH
Contact us
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Appeals
Any appeals regarding decisions made by the RPA under this scheme can be brought using the same procedure as that for Trader appeals. No fee will be applied to appeals under this scheme, so please do not include a cheque with your form.
Last updated 29 June 2020 + show all updates
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Removed forms as The Milk Production Reduction Scheme closed on 17 March 2017.
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Added translation
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Added translation
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Scheme update.
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Announced that there will be no further applications to the scheme.
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Added translation
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Added links to the application and claim forms.
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Added the application guidance - forms will follow on Saturday 10 September.
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Added the scheme start date, 11 September 2016.
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First published.