Pig farmers set to gain €3,000 in EU direct aid

Pig farmers with more than 200 animals slaughtered in 2015 are to receive a flat payment of €3,000 in EU-funded supports to offset the impacts of volatile market prices.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has unveiled the mechanism to distribute the €1m direct aid package for pig farmers.

He was speaking at the presentation to him of a pig industry stakeholder group report, with 60 recommendations to address the challenges facing the industry.

Mr Coveney said: “This support payment originates from a package of measures proposed by the European Commission in response to price deterioration experienced by pig farmers in 2015, the impact of which has been exacerbated by the closure of the Russian market.

"The Government decided to match the EU funding for the sector, thus providing for a €1m package.”

Further details will be sent to pig-herd owners in the coming days.

The minister is also considering the allocation of funding to the Irish Pig Society to further its work in representing smaller scale producers.

The pig industry stakeholder group, chaired by Sean Brady, is working to address challenges facing the pig sector under themes such as bio-security, animal welfare, quality assurance, antiobiotic usage, animal health, salmonella control programme, marketing, feed, non-intensive sector and other production models.

Dr Brady said: “I believe farmers and the processing industry in Ireland are ready, willing and able to take on the challenges and grasp opportunities highlighted in this report, and to continue to play a significant part in the ongoing development and growth of the Irish agri-food sector.”