Snow Effects

This March was the coldest in the UK since 1962 according to weather historians.  The severe weather has been devastating on many livestock farms.  For hill farmers in the UK the snow could not have come at a more difficult time, with most either lambing or due to start.  Although it is not unusual for snow at this time of year, it was the speed and the length of time it remained.  The drifts made the snowfall even worse with reports of farmers digging sheep out of 20ft snowdrifts.  Many more died, with reports of lambs freezing to death before they could even stand up. 

It maybe some time yet before we get a national picture and the impact it will have on this year’s lamb crop.  For some farmers there will be massive individual losses, but the aggregate effect may be not that dramatic as lambing percentages have generally been reasonable.

Following snow, DEFRA initially announced a relaxation of the fallen stock rules to allow farmers to bury or burn carcases on farm if the weather had made it difficult to get them collected.  It also encouraged collectors to offer discounted rates for removing more than ten sheep at a time.  Following pressure, DEFRA also announced in mid-April it is making £250,000 available to farmers in England to reimburse them for the cost of removing sheep killed in the snow.  The NFU will continue to work with the government along with other representatives to come up with a workable scheme to distribute payment.

Farmers will be relieved by this announcement, but for most the financial cost doesn’t end there.  Following a very wet and cold winter, grass growth has been very poor and due to the length of time the snow was on the ground any grass that was there has suffered and turned yellow.  The result is producers needing to supplement livestock with expensive bought in feed.  DEFRA has said it will be holding a meeting with farming representatives, banks and farming charities in May to discuss the financial plight of farmers and to see what more can be done to help.

Meanwhile in Wales, the Welsh Government has also made derogations to the on-farm burial rules and extended the deadline in areas worst hit by the snow until 30^th April.  In respect of monetary assistance, the Assembly has said it will be giving £500,000 to three charities; the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), Farm Community Network (FCN) and the Addington Trust to assist farming families worst hit by the extreme weather.  WAG is also seeking authorisation from the European Commission to bring forward the 2013 Single Farm Payment, for those affected, to mid-October to aid cashflow for these businesses.   

In Scotland, the government has made £500,000 available for farmers who have been affected by the harsh conditions.  The money is available to help meet the costs of disposing of animals.  The scheme is still being finalised, but will be similar to the one which operated in 2010.  Farmers will need to be members of the Fallen Stock Company and have used approved firms to remove their fallen animals.