Up to £250,000 will be available to reimburse farmers for the cost of removing sheep killed in freak snow in England last month, Farming Minister, David Heath announced today as devolved governments also make similar pledges to its livestock farming communities.
This is the latest move in a programme of support to help farmers affected by recent snow.
Defra has already permitted farmers to bury or burn livestock onsite if snow makes it difficult to get them to a collection vehicle, and has relaxed rules on driver hours to allow extra time for essential deliveries of animal feed.
The National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's decision to help English farmers with the cost of the disposal of the thousands of livestock killed by the blizzards at the end of March.
The announcement follows a visit arranged by the NFU for David Heath, Minister of State for Agriculture, and Meurig Raymond, NFU Deputy President, to Cumbria last week. This allowed the Minister to see the situation for himself and to talk to farmers first-hand about the impact, following intensive lobbying over the last three weeks from the NFU.
NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “This very welcome move by Defra will come as a huge relief to those farming families who have struggled with the worst spring snow in living memory and have since faced the very specific problem of the cost of removal of large numbers of dead animals.
“The NFU will now continue to work very closely with the government on the detail of exactly how this money will be distributed.”
The Scottish Government recently announced that support payments for beleaguered beef farmers was 'imminent'.
Farmers should begin to receive Scottish Beef Scheme payments from this Friday 19 April, with 95% of payments due to be completed by Wednesday 24 April.
The support, totalling £22 million, will boost a sector which is vital to Scotland’s rural economy but is struggling in the wake of extreme weather and high input costs.
NFU Scotland welcomed the news and livestock policy manager John Sleigh said: "NFU Scotland wholly welcomes the announcement that these vital payments are imminent; this support could not have come at a better time.
"A prolonged and ferocious winter means that across Scotland, farmers are unable to get their cattle out to grass and are having to buy in extra, expensive feed. This is leaving many producers struggling to make ends meet.
"Scotch Beef is one of the biggest jewels in Scottish agriculture’s crown and deservedly so. It enjoys a domestic and international reputation for taste, quality and traceability and its future must be safeguarded. The Scottish Beef Scheme provides important, coupled support to active beef farmers.
"Targeted coupled support is a highly effective way of making the most of public funds which continue to be squeezed because of austerity measures at home and in the EU. The CAP Reform-driven move from historic- to area-based payments is likely to hit our suckler beef producers, and coupling is a useful mitigating tool for which NFUS will continue to fight."
Farming Minister, David Heath said: "As I saw on my recent visit to Cumbria, the loss of sheep in recent snow has taken a terrible emotional and financial toll on farmers. We have been working with the National Fallen Stock Company to find the fairest way to help them meet the cost of removing their stock. I’m pleased to be able to announce this support today and call upon the public to lend their own support to our farmers by choosing British lamb."
NFU Deputy President, Meurig Raymond said: "This very welcome move by Defra will come as a huge relief to those farming families who have struggled with the worst spring snow in living memory and have since faced the very specific problem of the cost of removal of large numbers of dead animals. The NFU will now continue to work very closely with the government on the detail of exactly how this money will be distributed."
Defra has already worked with the National Fallen Stock Company to encourage collectors to offer discounted rates for removing more than ten sheep at a time. Farmers will be reimbursed in line with this discounted rate for the sheep they have paid to remove. Defra will now work with the NFU and other farming representatives to finalise the scheme.
In May, Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson will host a meeting of farming sector representatives, farming charities and banks to highlight the financial impact that exceptional weather is having on farm businesses and to see what more can be done to support farmers who are struggling financially.
Natural England has taken steps to help farmers deal with the severe weather by temporarily lifting some of the land management requirements that normally apply to Environmental Stewardship agreements, so that farmers and growers have more flexibility to deal with the impact of the recent extreme and unseasonable weather.
Ravenglass farmer and NFU Cumbria Council Delegate Alistair Mackintosh and NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond took the minister to see Robin and Joyce Jenkinson of Charlesground Farm on Corney Fell. Mr and Mrs Jenkinson told the minister that it was impossible to say just how many sheep they had lost as the task of finding and removing carcases from the fells could take two or three months to complete. In addition there were consequential losses among sheep rescued from the snow including a major reduction in numbers of lambs born this year.
After hearing the news that David Heath MP had listened to the farmers’ concerns and released a quarter of a million pounds, Mr Mackintosh said: “Following intensive lobbying from the NFU in the North West of England, the minister has been minded to step in and help with this dire situation. I thank him and greatly appreciate the support he is giving the farmers of Cumbria and the rest of the country.
“This is a welcome temporary stop gap for an immediate problem which will have adverse effects on the farmers involved for many years to come.”
NFU North West Regional Director, Robert Sheasby, added: “West Cumbrian farmers have successfully lobbied the minister and in doing so have found money for livestock farmers across the entire country whose ewes and lambs have perished in the snow drifts. The minister must be applauded for recognising the pressures these farmers face following an unexpected natural disaster.”
NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “This very welcome move by Defra will come as a huge relief to those farming families who have struggled with the worst spring snow in living memory and have since faced the very specific problem of the cost of removal of large numbers of dead animals.
“The NFU will now continue to work very closely with the government on the detail of exactly how this money will be distributed.”
