02.08.06
Dairy Collect funding boosts local farms, economy and environment

Dairy Collect, the Cornwall Enterprise service which uses Objective One money to make Cornish dairy farming more sustainable, has now awarded over one million pounds in investment to local farms.

Set against a background of declining milk prices and pessimism about the British dairy industry's prospects, Dairy Collect is a £2.29 million project helping Cornish dairy farms to build for the future. The latest round of investment approvals means that 89 different farms will now benefit from a combined total of £1,042,423 in funding to improve facilities for milk storage, collection and transport. And with a further 88 applications already in the pipeline for the remaining £1.25 million, any other local farmers considering potential bids will need to be quick.

John Berry, Managing Director of Cornwall Enterprise, comments: "Dairy farming is a longstanding and important part of Cornwall's economy, and the goal of Dairy Collect is to ensure it is robust and sustainable, ready for a competitive future. The benefits of funding awarded to farmers in all parts of the county will have a significant knock-on effect for local prosperity."

The scheme aims to help Cornish farms to improve milk storage arrangements, so that milk is chilled more efficiently and in larger quantities, and buyers' tankers can visit every other day, rather than daily. Farmers can apply for up to 40% of the cost of eligible projects such as bigger and better storage tanks, energy saving measures, and access for larger, articulated collection tankers.

Although changing collection arrangements seems only a small change, the resulting volume bonuses from milk buyers and reduced overhead costs can quickly mount up – having a considerable impact on a farm's profitability.

Lostwithiel farmer Peter Denton explains: "With the volume bonus and reduced collection costs, we can save anything up to £25 or £30 per day. When you also consider that the more efficient cooling cuts as much as £4 every day from the electricity bill, you're looking at an extra £10,000 or more a year. When the milk price is falling, and you're working hard for not much profit, that's a very significant difference."

The farm improvements are good news for the environment, local residents and consumers, too. Half as many collections mean hundreds of thousands fewer miles by tankers on local roads. Likewise, more efficient milk cooling uses less electricity and water, and results in higher quality milk.

The scheme's Manager, Elizabeth Menmuir, says: "More efficient milk collection is already making Cornish dairy farms more sustainable and competitive for the long term. It also cuts fuel emissions, pollution and food miles, which is great news for everybody. However, we have a very limited amount of time and grant funding remaining, so I'd strongly urge any other farmers who might be eligible to contact the team immediately, at Cornwall Enterprise's Truro offices."

Further information on applying for Dairy Collect funding can be obtained by calling 01872 322889, or sending an email to dairycollect@cornwallenterprise.co.uk.

For further information please contact the Elizabeth Menmuir of Dairy Collect on 01872 322887.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Cornwall Dairy Farm Collect Scheme through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Anyone considering a new horticulture, food and land based industries project is advised to speak with Martin Butler at Government Office South West on 01752 635134 before commencing development as there are now only limited funds available due to the successful uptake of funding by the agricultural sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Editor's notes:

Dairy Collect – a service of Cornwall Enterprise – is an Objective One European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and Defra delegated grant scheme, designed to improve infrastructure on Cornish dairy farms, linked to rationalising milk collection and transport.

The maximum funding available to each individual business is £75,000 with a maximum grant rate of 40% of eligible project costs.

All funding must be committed by December 2006, and an estimated 8 - 10 week lead time for new applications means all applications must be received by September at the latest. Successful projects can then spend and claim their grants until March 2008.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

back to top