Disadvantaged area payments are in line to be paid in the last week of September, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Eligibility inspections are needed to clear the way and progress the claims. It is hoped that more than the €120,000m to 60,000 farmers that was paid out last year will be paid out in the initial payment run. This would provide a much-needed boost to cashflows.

SFP query letters continue to be posted out and farmers should respond quickly to ensure their application is clear for payment.

Farmers will also receive the advance 50% payment worth over €500m in total from 16 October. However, the Commission is considering allowing 100% of direct support to be paid out to farmers from 16 October. The balance of direct payments is usually made on 1 December.

The move is to try to take the pressure off those who are struggling with cashflow problems in the aftermath of the Russian food ban.

The Commission gave the green light to CAP emergency market measures worth €125m to ease the pressure in the perishable fruit and vegetable sectors.

It is still not clear whether these funds would come from the €423m agricultural crisis reserve taken from farmers SFP last year. Ireland contributed €12m to the crisis reserve fund, so if it is used, the amount paid back to farmers will be reduced in line with the percentage used.

Unused funds from this reserve are returned to farmers with their 2014 SFP. However, a new crisis reserve for 2015 has to be created by taking €433m or around 1% from all farmers’ direct payments.

The Commission is expected to announce further measures to help the market, such as aid to private storage for dairy, after the meeting of agri experts in Brussels today (Thursday).