DEFRA ups snow compensation

DEFRA has announced farmers will receive 90% of the cost of removing sheep killed in snow, up from the expected 75%.


The government made £250,000 available to help English farmers in the worst-hit areas with the costs of collecting fallen stock after the snowstorms of March this year.


Just over 1,000 farmers are eligible for the scheme. All will receive funds by the end of this month


DEFRA farm minister David Heath said he had reviewed the operation of the scheme after getting in all the applications and was now able to increase the payment.


NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said: “This increase will be an extra boost for those farming families in the areas identified by DEFRA to help them recover from one of the worst spring snows in living memory.


“We hope this payment is made as quickly as possible.”


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