The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is being called on to provide “urgent flexibility” on the deadline for completed actions under the National Sheep Welfare Scheme.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has said that shortages in vaccines and sheep dip have put pressure on sheep farmers participating in the scheme and were trying to meet the deadline for these actions, which is today (Tuesday, October 15).
ICSA sheep chair, Willie Shaw said: “While today is the final day for farmers to complete selected actions under the scheme, many farmers have struggled to source both vaccines and suitable sheep dip on time.
“As a result, we are very concerned that farmers may be unfairly penalised through no fault of their own, and we are urging the department to show flexibility in the interest of fairness.”
Under the National Sheep Welfare Scheme, farmers must complete one action from each of two categories. Under category B, farmers must choose either clostridial vaccination of ewes, or plunge dipping to control external parasite.
The scheme provides €8/ewe to farmers who complete two actions from each category. However, the ICSA is concerned that both of the actions farmers must choose from in category B are causing difficulties.
“Many sheep farmers who opted for the clostridial vaccination option under category B have been unable to access vaccines due to widespread supply shortages.
“The ICSA understands that normal supply of these vaccines will not resume until mid to late December,” Shaw said.
One the plunge dipping option, the ICSA said that this is an issue for organic sheep farmers, as the only sheep dip suitable for organic stock is “in extremely scarce supply” and will not be readily available for “at least another month”.
“We are asking the department to extend the deadline to provide some leeway for farmers who are facing these unavoidable shortages.
“It is vital that farmers who have made every effort to comply with the scheme are not unfairly penalised because of circumstances beyond their control,” Shaw said.
“We need flexibility on this issue to ensure no sheep misses out on this important payment,” the ICSA sheep chair added.