NI pig farmers to share £2.2m in Covid-19 support

Pig farmers in Northern Ireland who were financially hit last year by the temporary closure of the Cranswick meat plant are being offered a share of a support package worth £2.2m.

Production at Cranswick Country Foods was halted for two weeks in August 2020 because of an outbreak of coronavirus among its workforce.

The pig processing plant processes about 10,000 animals each week, so the closure led to significant losses among an estimated 130 local pig producers.

See also: Dairy and beef farmers to share in £25m Covid-19 package

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said the package would offset the losses incurred by farmers during the time it took for pig processing to return to normal.

“This financial support will address the effects of the temporary loss of the lucrative Chinese export market, additional penalties on overweight and overfat pigs, and the price impact of alternative pig marketing arrangements,” it said.

Full details of the scheme will be made available when the scheme opens next month.

Eligible farmers will be contacted and asked to complete a simple application form to claim their payments.

William Irvine, deputy president of the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), said the funding would provide essential support to pig producers and would help to sustain farm businesses.

“The UFU encourages farmers who are contacted by Daera to make it a priority to fill out the necessary paperwork, so they can benefit from the funding as soon as possible.”

Support for other sectors

In September 2020, Daera made available more than £20m to support businesses in the dairy, beef, sheep, potato and ornamental horticulture sectors which had been hit financially by the pandemic.

More than 11,300 farmers and growers applied to the Covid-19 Support Fund, receiving a total of almost £19m.

For example, dairy producers were eligible to receive support for 80% of losses incurred because of market disruption in the months March, April, May and June 2020, with a flat rate payment of 1.28p/litre.

Farm businesses, who presented beef cattle, cull cows or bulls and veal calves (aged eight months old and over) for slaughter between 16 February and 30 June, were eligible for a payment of £33 a head.

A second payment of £40 a head was made if beef cattle, cull cows or bulls (aged 12 months old and over) were presented for slaughter between 29 March and 16 May 2020.