Farmers and other owners of flood-hit land and property in Northern Ireland are being advised by the North’s Department of Agriculture (DARD) to apply for non-domestic Emergency Financial Assistance.
The Northern Ireland Executive approved an Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme on March 10, 2016.
This was in response to the flooding experienced following the heavy rainfall between November 12 and December 30, 2015.
A spokesperson for DARD said that the scheme will provide flood assistance of £1,000 to non domestic properties and small businesses, including farm businesses.
“It will also include recreational and community buildings and places of worship.
“It is a one off extension to the existing DOE scheme operated by local councils and will jointly-funded by DARD and DOE.
“DARD will also provide a technical assessment of eligibility in relation to farm businesses if required.”
The scheme will be open for applications from April 4 to 30.
Further guidance and application forms will be available on the local council websites from April 4.
DARD is reminding farmers that the scheme has a range of criteria:
- The claim is eligible where a loss incurred was not insurable;
- Only small businesses can apply (employing less than 25 people);
- Farm businesses will include farmyards and land farmed by the business;
- Farmland must have been underwater for at least 14 days and incurred additional cost due to reduced productivity or unplanned sward restoration / reseeding work;
- Businesses must have been unable to operate due to constrained access for at least 14 days; and
- Businesses must be able to demonstrate a remedial cost to the business of at least £1,000.
According to DARD, only farmers whose land farmed has been significantly affected as a result of sustained high levels in Lough Neagh and Lough Erne will be considered.
“It is planned to define and publish a list of eligible areas ahead of scheme opening.
“Anyone responsible for a non-domestic property impacted by the recent flooding is encouraged to contact your local council or NI Direct (0845 3044508) for more details,” a spokesperson said.
(Source – Agriland – Amy Forde – 26/03/2016)
UFU Members Meet ESB Engineers in Ballyshannon To Discuss Flooding
A ‘Flooding Committee’ of Fermanagh UFU members, headed by county chairman David Brown, and accompanied by deputy president Barclay Bell, recently travelled to the Ballyshannon Hydroelectric Power Station to discuss the flooding situation with ESB engineers.
Harry Doherty, ESB; David Jordan, Andrew Wilson, UFU county chairman Davd Brown, Albert Foster, UFU vice president Barclay Bell, Henry Mayne, and Brian Drummond, ESB
This was followed by a meeting in the Killyhevlin Hotel afterwards, attended by over 30 members, with UFU Policy Officer Kate Cairns.
Members highlighted their concerns, not only about damage to their land and buildings but also about the safety of travelling to and from their homes and farms on flooded roads.
Some families have felt extremely isolated and confined to their homes.
The Flooding Committee members have met several times and are reviewing all available reports and data to gain an accurate picture of the flooding situation, including its causes, and identify possible solutions, including work on the inter-lough channel between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.
Last week, David Brown and other members, including Matthew Harrison, representing members around Lough Neagh, attended a Rivers Agency review meeting in Cookstown where they took the opportunity to express their respective issues and push for action to remedy them.
On this note, members are reminded that policy officers and the presidential team are willing to talk to members about concerns they may have and that our Technical Officer Leslie Craig is in the office most Thursdays to discuss a whole range of issues, including: Single Farm Payment/Cross Compliance, Animal Health, Planning, Environmental issues, Employment, Drainage, Penalty appeals etc.
The Fermanagh UFU groups are currently organising a UFU study tour to Dusseldorf, Germany from Sunday 25 to Wednesday 28 September 2016 (four days/three nights).
The tour will be based in Dusseldorf and will include visits to several farms outside the city and a visit to the Claas machinery factory. To secure your place call the Enniskillen office on (028) 6632 6622.
Places should be booked and paid for by 31 March and booking is on a first come, first served basis.
(Source – Farming Life – 27/03/2016)
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