Weather puts dampener on farm incomes

THE Department of Social and Family Affairs will take account of any loss of income or additional costs incurred by farmers due to the poor weather conditions when it is assessing claims for assist payments.

Minister Mary Coughlan gave the assurance after she and Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh met with the IFA to discuss support payments for farmers in the light of problems caused by bad weather.

Meanwhile, the ICMSA has called on the Cabinet to approve a financial package for farm families whose incomes, it predicts, will fall by an average of 7,000 this year as low product prices are compounded by weather problems.