12 JUNE 2020

ICSA sheep chairman Sean McNamara has said sheep farmers must not be left out of any Government support packages aimed at mitigating the impact of Covid-19. “Sheep farmers have been hit with the same market instability as beef farmers and should be entitled to receive some comparable aid,” he said.

Mr McNamara said a Family Farm Support Package would be more in order to deal with the fallout from Covid-19. “All family farms have taken a big financial hit as a result of Covid-19, so all family farms should be recognised in any forthcoming support package. In the past we have had an exceptional aid package for beef farmers in the form of the BEAM scheme, yet despite repeated requests, sheep farmers received nothing. Sheep farmers must not be forgotten in all this; we will not stand back and be ignored again,” he said.

ENDS