Written Question · S1W-08300 · Session 1
What volume of (a) wholesale and (b) direct sales milk quota was held within the Southern Isles ring-fenced area in each year from 1995-96 …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what volume of (a) wholesale and (b) direct sales milk quota was held within the Southern Isles ring-fenced area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000 inclusive; what volume of production was claimed against each of these types of quota in this area in each of these years, and whether it will explain any trends which these figures show.
The answer
The volume of milk quota and milk production held within the Southern Isles ring-fence area is shown in the following table.Milk Quota within the Southern Isles Ring Fence AreaYear | Wholesale | Direct Sales
| Quota Held | Milk Production* | Quota Held | Milk Production
1995-96 | 55,779,266 | 56,051,000 | 1,358,238 | 866,320
1996-97 | 55,781,146 | 55,841,000 | 1,356,358 | 761,756
1997-98 | 55,848,926 | 57,183,000 | 1,288,578 | 896,385
1998-99 | 56,314,720 | 55,689,000 | 822,470 | 770,499
1999-2000 | 56,321,755 | N/A | 815,435 | N/A
* Figures supplied by Scottish Milk and adjusted for butterfat.It is possible for milk producers to convert direct sales quota to wholesale quota (and vice versa), either temporarily or permanently, in order to help quota match production. It is also possible for milk producers to lease non ring-fence quota to cover production over ring-fence quota held. However, it is not possible for ring fence milk quota to be leased to non ring-fence producers. In recent years milk production in the Southern Isles has fallen which is consistent with the position in other parts of south-west Scotland. This was partly due to the wet summers in 1998 and 1999 resulting in a reduction in the outdoor grazing period and lower milk yields from grass. The depressed milk prices over the last two years have reduced the incentive for producers to meet quota allowances by feeding elevated levels of purchased concentrates to supplement home produced grass and fodder. Some producers have ceased milk production and others have expanded to benefit from economies of scale but overall cow numbers are down slightly.
| Quota Held | Milk Production* | Quota Held | Milk Production
1995-96 | 55,779,266 | 56,051,000 | 1,358,238 | 866,320
1996-97 | 55,781,146 | 55,841,000 | 1,356,358 | 761,756
1997-98 | 55,848,926 | 57,183,000 | 1,288,578 | 896,385
1998-99 | 56,314,720 | 55,689,000 | 822,470 | 770,499
1999-2000 | 56,321,755 | N/A | 815,435 | N/A
* Figures supplied by Scottish Milk and adjusted for butterfat.It is possible for milk producers to convert direct sales quota to wholesale quota (and vice versa), either temporarily or permanently, in order to help quota match production. It is also possible for milk producers to lease non ring-fence quota to cover production over ring-fence quota held. However, it is not possible for ring fence milk quota to be leased to non ring-fence producers. In recent years milk production in the Southern Isles has fallen which is consistent with the position in other parts of south-west Scotland. This was partly due to the wet summers in 1998 and 1999 resulting in a reduction in the outdoor grazing period and lower milk yields from grass. The depressed milk prices over the last two years have reduced the incentive for producers to meet quota allowances by feeding elevated levels of purchased concentrates to supplement home produced grass and fodder. Some producers have ceased milk production and others have expanded to benefit from economies of scale but overall cow numbers are down slightly.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-08300 by reference.