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NOTICE NO. 11/10
DAIRY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMME 2010-2012
NOTICE TO MILK SUPPLIERS AND
DISCUSSION GROUP FACILITATORS
Under the Dairy Efficiency Programme (DEP), unspent Single Payment Scheme funds amounting to €6 million per annum are being used to encourage the adoption by milk producers of best practice in grassland management, breeding and financial management through participation in discussion groups. The Programme is entering its third year in 2012, and will be open to both new participants and new facilitators.
MILK PRODUCERS
The Programme will be open to existing members of discussion groups and to those wishing to join groups for the first time. All participants will be required to attain a specified standard in relation to attendance and project work. Progress will be monitored by a group facilitator. The rate of payment will be determined by the number of participants who satisfy the requirements of the Programme, as certified by each group facilitator.
Application forms (DEP1) for those joining the DEP for the first time are now available from Co-operatives/Dairies and from the Department’s website. A separate DEP1A is also available for existing participants who wish to make a change to their original application (e.g. address, herd number, milk purchaser, nominee, etc). Completed forms must be submitted to each discussion group facilitator by 10 February 2012. A full list of accredited facilitators is available on the Department’s website (see below). Existing participants who do not wish to make a change to their application do not need to submit a new form to their facilitator.
FACILITATORS
The Programme is also open to those who wish to be added to the existing pool of accredited facilitators. Teagasc will provide training to a FETAC-accredited standard. Interested parties with the required technical competence (B.Agr.Sc. or equivalent) should contact Niamh Allen, Teagasc Advisory Office, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork (e-mail: ; Tel. 025-42362) for information and application forms. Completed applications should be submitted by 13 January 2012. Training will take place in the second half of January 2012, subject to a minimum number of applications being received.
Full details of the Dairy Efficiency Programme are now available from Cooperatives/Dairies or directly from the Meat and Milk Policy Division of the Department. They are also available on the Department’s website under “Dairy Farming/Dairy Efficiency Programme”.
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
December 2011.