Sir,
The EU’s decision to double the ceiling for intervention in the dairy market is hopeful news for the South West’s dairy farmers.
The move to lift state aid restrictions, allowing member states to provide extra direct support to ALL farmers, could well mean the difference between going to the wall or survival for many family farms.
This cannot be a permanent solution to the crisis in the industry but they are helpful holding measures.
Intervention is the equivalent of firefighting rather than fire prevention. However, current circumstances are so severe that firefighting is exactly what is needed. So it is good the EU has answered the alarm bell.
It will be up to member states to implement the measures. I shall be interested to see whether the farming Minister will use the flexibility available, particularly in the light of his support for withdrawal from the EU and his assurances that farmers can rely on UK Government support in the future.
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