€16m to be issued in Sheep Welfare Scheme advance payments

For sheep farmers around the country, the next item on the agenda will be scanning the flock.

Advance payments for the Sheep Welfare Scheme, worth almost €16 million are set to begin today, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced.

The payments for Year 5 of the Sheep Welfare Scheme will be made to around 18,000 Irish sheep farmers.