Northern Irish farmers are to receive a 70% advance of their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments to help ease cashflow issues caused by flash flooding in August.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed that the rate of advance CAP payments will increase from 50% to 70% of claim value.
Northern Ireland saw fierce flash flooding in August. A number have lost livestock or suffered damage to farmland or properties. For example, tens of thousands of chickens have been killed in the floods.
The European Commission has approved an application from the DAERA to increase the rate of advance payments from 16 October 2017.
The department made its application to the European Commission for the increase in advance payments following the heavy rainfall and flash flooding of 22 August 2017.
Advance payments will commence on 16 October and will be made to all eligible farm businesses in Northern Ireland which have fully verified claims.
Balance payments, or full payments for those not eligible for an advance payment, will commence from 1 December 2017.
Pressures
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) said it is "pleased" DAERA and the European Commission have responded "positively" to its call for an increase in advance CAP payments. It says this will help with cash flow pressures as a result of poor weather.
UFU president Barclay Bell said: “We pushed hard for this increase in what has been a difficult year for weather-related problems.
“The prolonged periods of heavy rain, which resulted in serious flooding in some areas, have presented a number of challenges.
“Cattle have been housed earlier than usual, silage hasn’t been cut, slurry can't be spread and harvest has been delayed. This has put a severe cash flow strain on many farm businesses.”
Flooding and extreme weather events are no stranger to the farming industry. The NFU has previously said that creating solutions which improve flood resilience and build a secure, sustainable supply of water is 'vital' for the future of the food and farming industry.
