The Latvian Dairy Federation begins disbursing state emergency support to dairy producers

The Latvian Agricultural Service (RSS) will begin disbursing state emergency adjustment support to dairy producers totaling 7 million euros on May 24. Farmers will receive the payments in the coming days.

The support rate for milk producers is 16.14 euros per tonne of milk. For milk producers who are members of recognised cooperatives that process milk and produce dairy products or who own >50% shares in the share capital of a company that produces dairy products, the support rate is higher – 17.75 euros per tonne of milk.

To receive support, customers do not need to submit support applications. The RSS calculates and disburses support based on information held by the Agricultural Data Center on milk producers' compliance with the conditions.

State emergency adjustment support is granted to a milk producer who had registered dairy cows in his herd as of 1 February 2017 and who implemented at least one of the following activities within a certain period of time:

• Not increasing or decreasing production;
• Implementation of quality schemes or projects aimed at promoting quality and added value;
• Implementation of cooperation projects;
• Applying environmentally or climate-friendly production methods;
• Small-scale agriculture.

Eligible milk producers will be granted support for the quantity of milk delivered to the first buyer between March and August 2016, which is not less than 500 kg.