IFA hoping for payment advance due to bad weather

The Irish Farmers Association is calling on the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to impress on Europe how badly the wet weather is affecting their industry.

Mr Coveney is to attend a meeting of the Farm Council in Brussels, and the Irish Farmer's Association wants him to appeal to Europe for an exceptional handout.

The IFA is hoping for a 70% advance on the Single Farm Payment, due on October 16.

There is precedent when the European Commission made a similar move in 2009, one of the worst summers of recent years.

IFA President John Bryan has said this summer is shaping up to be even worse.