Farmers could get a cashflow boost in October after the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney called on the EU Commission to increase the advance payment to farmers due on 16 October.

Commissioner Ciolos has indicated that payments could be brought forward due to the difficulties being suffered by farmers, mainly from the Russian ban.

“There are a number of other pressures on farmers in Ireland at present, including in the beef sector,” Minister Coveney said.

“The early issue of the Single Farm Payment would help to relieve some of the pressure on a number of fronts, in what has been a difficult year to date for Irish farmers,” according to the Minister.