More than 52,000 farmers across the EU's 28 member states have applied for the EU £129m dairy aid scheme that will pay them the equivalent of 12.2p per litre to cut production over a three month period. Applications for the first round, which runs from 1 November 2016 to 31 January 2017, account for a massive 1.06m tonnes of milk, meaning there will only be enough money left in the budget to fund a reduction of 11,400 tonnes in the second round and none for the final two rounds.

More than 1800 UK farmers applied for the scheme. That total includes almost a fifth of all Scottish producers, or 154, who have signed up to reduce their milk production by just over 112 thousand tonnes, or 15m litres, when compared to the same period last year.

Preliminary figures suggest the UK was one of the biggest applicants by volume for the scheme.

Market round-up

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 124 store heifers in Lockerbie on Tuesday to a top of 246.9p per kg and an average of 206p, while 341 store bullocks peaked at 257.6p and levelled at 226.6p.

Lawrie & Symington Ltd held their annual sale of draft Blackface ewes and gimmers in Lanark on Tuesday when gimmers sold to £2000 each for a pen of 3 from Hugh Alan, Blackwood, Auldhouseburn and averaged £164.29 (+£40.60 on the year) for 1340 sold. Ewes peaked at £720 for a pen of 10 from Archie McGregor, Allanfauld and averaged £90.35 +£7.82) for 3292 sold.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 6316 store lambs forward at their weekly sale in Longtown on Tuesday that included 1708 Cheviots and 1585 Blackfaces. Top prices and averages for selected breeds: Hill Cheviots to £64 and averaged £53.65 (+£6.52 on the week); North Country Cheviots £61 and £51.78 (+59p); Blackfaces £53 and £39.56 (+59p); Texels £74.50 and £60.45 (+£2.40); Suffolks £72 and £59.99 (+£2.21); Greyfaces £64.50 and £53.02 (-£3.61).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 10 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1243 per head and 228p per kg (twice) to average £1121.43 and 218.8p, while 6 prime bullocks peaked at £1395 and 225p to level at £1270.23 and 192.2p. Three prime bulls sold to £1193.80 and 188p to level at £1177.33 and 186.4p.

In the rough ring 86 beef cows sold to £1190 and 172.4p to average 122.8p, while 120 dairy cows peaked at £960 and 127p to level at 87.6p. Nine bulls sold to £1200 and 153.9p to average 102p.

A larger show of 21 dairy cattle sold to £1620 for a Holstein Friesian heifer and averaged £1109.