Loan lifts with mail

The letter from Rural Solutions SA executive director Daniel Casement encouraged “all eligible dairy businesses in SA…to consider applying” for the loan, which offered up to $1 million a farm. It was sent 10 days before the October 31 closing date.

“We want to assure you that PIRSA staff are working hard to see as many eligible dairy farms get access to a Dairy Recovery Concessional Loan as soon as possible,” it read.

A PIRSA spokesperson said the letters were a way to prompt the state’s dairyfarmers impacted by the Murray Goulburn and Fonterra farmgate price drops to apply before the scheme’s closure date, and resulted in a number of “last-minute” applications. 

“All dairy applications have been finalised, with seven loans approved and one declined,” they said.

In total, the federal government provided SA with $10m for the dairy recovery and drought assistance concessional loans during the 2016-17 application period.

SA Dairyfarmers’ Association chief executive officer Andrew Curtis said more people could have applied but many had self-assessed. He is encouraging dairyfarmers to consider a new, similar program, which closes on June 30.

He said SADA had expressed to federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce that the program should expand beyond Murray Goulburn and Fonterra suppliers, as the impact was more widespread.