Sheep grassland grant to offset feed hikes

FARM groups issued muted welcomes this week for the sheep grassland payments worth up to €2,100 which were finally issued this week by the Department of Agriculture.

ICSA sheep chairman, Mervyn Sunderland, said: “The payment is well overdue at this stage. It will be a help at this time of year when most sheep farmers don’t have an income by way of sales or other income.”

Payments begin on February 1, worth a total €18m per annum for three years. The money comes from unused Single Payment funds. The ICSA said this will help offset large increases in feed and fertiliser prices set to hit farmers in 2011.