Tillage farmers who lost crops during the harvest in 2016 due to poor weather conditions have been given one month to apply to a €1.5 million crop loss fund.
The details of the ‘Weather Related Crop Loss Support Measure’ were confirmed today, July 26, by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Application forms will be available from today onwards and the deadline for applications has been set as August 25.
Last week, it was revealed that payments to affected tillage farmers would be capped at a maximum of €10,500.
Meanwhile, farmers who lost between 30% and 50% of their crops last year will have their payments capped at €7,000. This equates to a payment of €200/ha up to 35ha. The minimum qualifying area of eligible crops is 3ha.
Who will be eligible?
Commercial cereal growers who experienced greater than 30% loss in tonnes of grain sold, as a result of the wet harvest conditions in September 2016, are encouraged to apply to the scheme.
Financial aid will only be paid where losses relate to off-farm sales – incidental on-farm use of up to 20% of the harvested crop will not affect eligibility, according to the department.
But a grower is not eligible for support under the measure where on-farm use accounted for greater than 20% of the harvested crop in 2016.
If the number of eligible applications received exceeds the total budget allocated for the measure, reduced payments on a linear basis will be applied as appropriate, the department added.
More details about the scheme and how to apply are available on the department’s website.
‘Many farmers experienced difficult challenges last year’
Speaking at the launch of the new measure, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, described how “many farmers experienced difficult challenges last year”.
“This was particularly the case for a number of cereal farmers, who experienced an exceptionally difficult harvest and resulting yield losses for certain spring crops.
“This is a very important sector to the agricultural economy, making a vital contribution to both the food and feedstuffs sector.
I have always stated that there was a will to support these farmers, the challenge was to find a way that ensured support was focused and targeted at those most impacted whilst also ensuring prudent expenditure of public finances.
“I am pleased that a way has now been found – through positive dialogue and engagement. I am satisfied that the measure of a €1.5 million maximum scheme addresses both of these requirements,” Minister Creed concluded.