Defra has given details on how the £250,000 made available for farmers hit by the effects of freak snow in March and April will be distributed in England.

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Farming Minister David heath announced that money would available to reimburse farmers for the cost of removing sheep killed during the extreme weather on 18th April. On Wednesday (15th May), details of the eligibility criteria, funding levels and information on how to apply were published on the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) website.

The NFSCo, which was responsible for retrieving animals killed in the snow, reported that fallen stock collections in the contiguous UK rose by 24 percent from January to April (or 64,000 animals). As the company said that its figures represent an absolute minimum, it is thought that over 100,000 animals perished as a result of the harsh conditions throughout the UK (at least 29,000 animals are thought to have died in Northern Ireland as a result of the heavy snow). In England, collections of sheep over the first four months of the year were 31 percent higher than in 2012, cattle collections were up eight percent.  

Farmers who had fallen sheep collected between 1st April and 15th May will be eligible for reimbursement, but the total pot must not exceed £250,000, NFSCo said. If this happens, individual payments will be reduced.  

Although NFSCo will administer the subsidy scheme, farmers do not need to be members to qualify for support. Farmers awarded compensation could be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the cost of collection. Defra also relaxed rules on on-farm burial and burning of fallen animals at the height of the bad weather.  

Defra said on Wednesday that it had worked with NFU and the Met Office to determine where the worst-hit areas had been. Farmers in these areas will be contacted by NFSCo if they are members, otherwise they will need to contact the company and submit an application by 30th June in order to receive compensation.

Farming Minister, David Heath said on Wednesday, "As I saw on my recent visit to Cumbria, the loss of sheep in recent snow has taken a terrible emotional and financial toll on farmers. We have been working with the National Fallen Stock Company to find the fairest way to help them meet the cost of removing their stock."

NFU Deputy President, Meurig Raymond said, "This very welcome move by Defra will come as a huge relief to those farming families who have struggled with the worst spring snow in living memory and have since faced the very specific problem of the cost of removal of large numbers of dead animals."

He continued, "The NFU has worked hard to ensure that this limited amount of money is targeted to help those businesses worst affected and we hope this will come as some relief to those farms during what has been a distressing time. The NFU will now continue to work very closely with the government on the detail of exactly how this money will be distributed."

Application forms and a list of eligible postcodes are available from the NFSCo website.

Update 16.05.2013 15:00 :

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, agriculture minister Michelle O'Neill announced the establishment of a taskforce convened to support farmers affected by harsh weather earlier this year, as well as ongoing inclement conditions that have hindered farmers for the past 18 months.

Ms O’Neill said she hoped the formation of a taskforce, comprised of various stakeholders in agriculture would "mitigate future problems" as well as solving problems facing farmers this year. Ministers in Northern Ireland set aside a £5 million emergency hardship funding for farmers affected by harsh weather earlier in late March.