A farm business consultancy has advised sheep farmers hit by substantial losses in severe weather earlier this year to check whether they are eligible for Defra payments

Strutt & Parker advised farmers to investigate whether they are eligible for Defra payments, as those that are not members of an NFSCo collector will not be notified of their eligibility automatically. Defra has made £250,000 available to help farmers who suffered heavier than expected losses due to the exceptional weather.

Farmers can claim up to 75 percent of the costs paid for collecting and rendering sheep which died in the late March snowfall. Those who had sheep collected between April 1 and May 15, this year can apply for support payments, providing they are located within a postcode deemed to have been severely affected by Defra and the Met Office.

Ali Gray, associate at Strutt & Parker's Morpeth office, advised on friday "It was a long hard winter, compounded by higher feed costs, which hit upland farmers particularly hard, especially during lambing. This payment will provide a very welcome helping hand and farmers should check to see if they are eligible.

"It is very simple to check whether farms lie in the specified postcodes by visiting the website www.nfsco.co.uk. Farmers do not need to be members of the NFSCo. They need simply to produce an invoice proving they had fallen stock collected during the eligibility window and fill in an application form."

The deadline for applications from non-members is June 30. Members do not need to do anything as the NFSCo has all the information necessary on the system.

On the Isle of Man, the government this week unveiled a £600,000 support package for the Island's stricken farmers. 15,000 animals are estimated to have died on the Isle of Man during the heavy snow in early spring, and agriculture minister Phil Gawne said the money will go to benefit around 100 farmers.