Farmers are hoping that the EU money will be matched by Government funding. This could make €2m available to the 280 commercial pig farmers in the country.

While the dairy option has been to pay out €1,350 per farmer with a top-up of €800 available to young qualified farmers, there has been no confirmation as to how the funds available for the pig sector will be allocated.

Ciaran Carroll, head of Teagasc’s pig development department, said one option to be considered is a per-sow payment. With 150,000 sows in the Republic of Ireland, this would mean a payment of €13/sow is available.

Aside from grant aid, it will be the first time a direct payment will be made to pig farmers. Carroll went on to add that this will be a goodwill gesture rather than a measure to get a pig farmer out of the current financial hole they are in.

The effects of Russian sanctions are being keenly felt by European pig producers as 25% of EU exports were to Russia prior to the ban.