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There was a clear understanding that poultry flocks affected by H6N1 strain of bird flu were to receive compensation of up to €20,000, chair of the IFA national poultry committee Andrew Boylan has told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“The terms and conditions of the scheme have shown these flocks are to receive €10,000, half of the figure we had previously discussed. This is very disappointing and the affected flocks are maddened by the change in compensation.”
Earlier this week, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said it would fund 100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €10,000 in respect of eligible applications from approved poultry producers received on or before 31 July 2020.
Before the bird flu hit my flock I had 14,000 free range hens laying table eggs
The Irish Farmers Journal spoke with Micky McKenna, a free range egg producer in Tydavnet, Co Monaghan, whose flock was depopulated as a result of the H6N1 strain of bird flu.
“Before the bird flu hit my flock I had 14,000 free range hens laying table eggs. The birds cost nearly €70,000 to buy, along with another €70,000 in meal and all the other associated costs that comes with keeping hens.
“When bird flu was identified in my flock, I was ordered to completely depopulate. This was a loss of over €150,000 for me. When I was informed there would be a block payment of €20,000, I felt it would help towards repopulating later in the year.
Latest announcement
“With the latest announcement of the conditions of the scheme, it’s working out that I’m only entitled to €3,000 or €4,000. It is such minimalistic compensation that I feel like refusing it - I’m astounded and deeply hurt by it.
“This virus hit our flocks by no fault of our own and we’ve been totally thrown to the wayside. The Department is only paying for anything we have an invoice for, which includes costs incurred for transport, culling and the rendering of the birds.
“To be fair, there is no onus on the Department to give support to the affected poultry flocks, but the frustrating thing is they led the IFA to believe we were getting a once-off payment of €20,000.
This virus has wiped out my livelihood
“We were given 24 hours notice to depopulate. This virus has wiped out my livelihood. It’s the chance we take when rearing these birds and, to be honest, it sometimes feels like jumping out of a plane with no parachute.”
Drop in the ocean
The IFA had always discussed an upper figure of €20,000 for these affected flocks and it’s now very disappointing to have to tell these people they are only entitled to half of this, IFA poultry committee executive secretary Robert Malone told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“We are currently in private communications with the Department to have this matter rectified. We had begun to make progress with former Minister Barry Cowen, but we are now back to square one with the appointment of Minister Calleary.
“There are only 14 flocks affected, so €20,000 per flock is only €280,000, which is only a drop in the ocean for the Department’s budget.”
The Irish Farmers Journal has contacted the Department of Agriculture for comment.
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