ICMSA calls on minister to include dairy stock in assistance scheme

The ICMSA has called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to include dairy stock in the BVD assistance measures.

ICMSA deputy president Pat McCormack said the exclusion of dairy stock completely from the bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) assistance measure was unfair and wrong given that financial losses are being suffered by dairy farmers as well as suckler farmers.

Mr McCormack said farmers would welcome the payment of €100 per head where two or more calves from a suckler herd are found to be persistently infected.