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This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Suckler cow quota

26/02/2003

The 2003 national reserve of suckler cow quota will be open for applications from March 4, it was announced today.

The application period will run until March 31 2003. All applicants will be informed of the outome of their applications before the start of the 2003 suckler cow premium quota trading period which opens around mid-June.

Unsuccessful applicants will therefore be informed in time to enable them to acquire quota from the market before submitting a claim.

Application forms and explanatory leaflets for the 2003 national reserve will be available from SEERAD local area offices from 4 March. If producers wish to apply to the National Reserve, it is their responsibility to obtain an application form, complete it correctly and return it to the Department by 31 March 2003 at the latest.

The categories of the 2003 national reserve are as follows:

* Producers who are taking over land from which quota has been removed by a departing tenant or sharefarmer whose tenancy or sharefarming agreement was drawn up before 1 January 1993.

* Producers in environmental schemes switching from arable to livestock farming.

* Individual newcomers to farming in 2002 or 2003, under the age of 40. (Scottish partnerships, members of Scottish partnerships and limited companies are not eligible to apply to this category)

* Individual newcomers to farming in 2002 or 2003, aged 40 and over. (Scottish partnerships, members of Scottish partnerships and limited companies are not eligible to apply to this category)

* Producers who have already entered, or who are committed to entering the Organic Aid Scheme.

* First time premium claimants in 2002 or 2003.

* Producers who are returning land to suckler cow farming which was temporarily used for non-agricultural purposes.

* Separate but similar arrangements are being made in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Page updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2004