Raw Milk Producers Await Announcement of Support Amount
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Despite entering August, the 2026 raw milk premium support amount and payment schedule have not been determined. Producers struggling with rising input costs are awaiting the first quarter payments.
Uncertainty Persists in Raw Milk Support
Despite reaching August, the raw milk support amount and payment schedule for the 2026 production year have not yet been clarified. Premiums, which are supposed to be paid in three-month installments, have begun processing the second quarter invoices. However, producers are unaware of the support they will receive as the amount per liter has not been announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Dairy producers, struggling with rising input costs, are eagerly awaiting the payment of the first installment covering January, February, and March.
Details of the New Livestock Support Model
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry transitioned to a planned production period starting January 1, 2024, for livestock and January 1, 2025, for crop production. Within this framework, supports have been structured for three years and divided into two main categories: basic support and product development support. With the Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette on July 26, 2024, cattle, sheep, goat, beekeeping, and silkworm farming were included in the basic support category. Raw milk, along with beef bull and mohair production, was placed under the product development support heading.
Basic Support Figures and Applications
In the initial decree published in the Official Gazette, unlike other livestock items, the basic support amount for raw milk was not directly specified. Tables published by the General Directorate of Livestock under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry projected the basic support amount at 20 kurus per liter. The application was announced to be effective from January 1, 2025. While payments for the first three quarters during this period were made within 2025, the final support for October, November, and December extended into 2026.
Revisions in Decrees and Increase Rates
A revision to the livestock support model was made with the Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette on September 14, 2025. As a result of this regulation, livestock supports were generally increased by around 40% according to Official Gazette data. Despite this general increase, the per-liter raw milk premium support amount applicable for 2026 was not announced in this decree either. Consequently, raw milk producers remain completely unaware of the premium amount they will receive in the new season.
Producer's Expectation for Schedule and Amount
Despite the disruptions experienced during the transition to the new support model last year, the General Directorate of Livestock published a work calendar on July 17, 2025. In line with this calendar, administrative procedures for producers and payment dates were announced to the public. This year, despite ongoing data entry into the system, no official calendar has been published. Producers are demanding the swift announcement of the support amount and payment dates to resolve the uncertainty.