Farmers in the flood-hit valleys of Glenelly and Owenkillew in Northern Ireland will receive departmental assistance to dispose of dead animals lost during the recent flooding.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) announced the plan as part of the measures it has put in place to support farmers affected by the serious flooding in the northwest.

The department will arrange for the collection and disposal of the animals, provided farmers can arrange for the animals in question to be taken to a location which is accessible to large vehicles.

Farmers are reminded that this is not a compensation scheme. Those, based in the affected areas, interested in applying are invited to contact the department as soon as possible – before 4:00pm on Thursday, September 7 – to avail of this support.

Affected farmers are asked to call the department on: 0300-200-7840. They are then advised to ask for their local Divisional Veterinary Office (Omagh or Strabane) and provide details of the number and type of stock to be collected and a contact number.

The department has also provided farmers whose cattle drowned or are missing as a result of the flood with advice.

As a result of the extreme weather conditions, the department is adopting a flexible approach to the late notification of animal losses from affected premises.

It is hoped that the recent measures announced by the department will help to ensure that late notifications of these events do not impact on cross compliance for the businesses affected.

There is no change to the current requirements to notify deaths and movements of cattle within seven days for herds unaffected by the flooding, DAERA confirmed.