Michael Creed
Question:176 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is possible under the farm retirement scheme to lease a milk quota to a cooperative and let the land holding separately. [23496/98]
Written Answers - Farm Retirement Scheme.
Under the milk quota temporary leasing scheme producers can offer to their own milk purchaser, on a temporary basis, all or part of their quota which they consider they will not use during that milk quota year. Producers who offer all or part of their available quota under this scheme to their milk purchaser should be aware that while they are not required to lease the lands to which their quota attaches in order to participate in this scheme, the quota remains attached to those lands under EU regulations and will revert to the benefit of the operator of those lands at the beginning of the next quota year, namely 1 April. If the lands are leased after the milk quota was taken up under the temporary leasing scheme, the quota will revert for use by the lessee at the beginning of the next milk quota year. Lands leased under the farm retirement scheme are covered under this provision also.