Tomorrow (January 22) is the last day that flood-stricken farmers can apply to the €2m Fodder Aid Scheme.
Farmers whose feed supplies were damaged by the recent floods are eligible to apply for support under this scheme.
Eligible feedstuffs are silage, hay, straw and concentrates, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Losses to other sources of feed on the holding such as root crops for grazing or in storage do not qualify for support under this scheme, it confirmed.
On-farm visits will be undertaken by Department personnel in the case of all applicants for assistance under the Fodder Scheme to confirm the quantities of fodder lost due to the flooding.
The Department has stated that payments will be made after eligible applications have been processed and losses confirmed by field visits.
Only actual flood damaged feedstuff that is not utilisable as feed should be notified on your application. For example, in the case of stacked bales it is important to assess if flood damage is confined to lower or bottom rows.
Similarly in the case of concentrates, assess the extent of damage to bags or bulk feed and list only the portion that is damaged and unfit to feed.
The scheme is being managed by the Fodder Aid Section in the Department’s Portlaoise office (Ph: 0761 064426).
Application Forms and Terms and Conditions for the Scheme have been available on the Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie and from the Departments local office network and Teagasc since January 7, 2016.