COVID-19 scheme for wool sector opens

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), Ulster Wool and the National Sheep Association (NSA) are encouraging sheep farmers who have suffered poor wool prices due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on the global market, to apply for the £1.27million COVID-19 support package that has been allocated to the sheep sector. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Edwin Poots announced today (28 July), that the application window for the scheme has now opened.

UFU hill farming chair Nigel McLaughlin said, “We are pleased that our members can now apply for the support package that has been allocated to the sheep sector to help alleviate the losses sheep farmers incurred from wool sales. The UFU, Ulster Wool and NSA lobbied continuously on behalf of members to get this support secured as farmers across Northern Ireland (NI) have been enduring the impact of the collapsed wool market for the past year with no sign of things improving until very recently. We thank the DAERA Minister for acknowledging the downturn of wool prices and our concerns, and for working effectively to get the scheme opened.”

The application window for the COVID-19 support package closes on 12 August and eligible sheep farmers will receive £1.40(70p/kg) for ewes and ewe lambs, that were put to ram during 2019.

Brendan Kelly, Ulster Wool chairman said, “Ulster Wool welcomes the opening of the application window for NI wool producers to claim under the COVID-19 wool support scheme. Ulster Wool, working collaboratively with our partners the UFU and NSA, provided strong evidence to government ministers demonstrating the losses incurred by NI wool producers as a result of the pandemic. By supporting Ulster Wool and delivering your wool into our Muckamore depot or our network of drop off locations, you are supporting your organisation and making a valuable contribution in ensuring Ulster Wool continues to represent the best interests of the NI wool sector. 

“The more wool Ulster Wool handles the more cost effective an organisation we are which enables us to maximise the value of producers’ wool in the long term. This also ensures Ulster Wool can continue to support our industry through shearing training and driving demand for our high-quality fibre. I’d encourage all NI wool producers to market their wool through Ulster Wool, as this scheme demonstrates, by working together, this delivers better results for the NI sheep sector.”

NSA NI regional manager Edward Adamson said, “Sheep farmers will appreciate this payment from DAERA and it shows that working together with the UFU and Ulster Wool as an industry group, proved beneficial in demonstrating the need for support for the sector. I would urge all in receipt of a notification to put in their application as soon as possible."

The UFU, Ulster Wool and NSA encourage farmers to apply as soon as possible due to the short window and some may need agents to complete the application. Farmers must have completed the 2019 sheep annual inventory to be eligible to claim and the application process will be a simple online form - the information should come pre-populated.

Amendments cannot be made once the claim has been submitted and all eligible farmers should receive a letter to inform them, with payments being made in August.

For more information or to apply visit http://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/Coronavirus-Income-Support-Scheme