Farmers can benefit from crop damage

Agricultural Minister Michelle Gildernew has initiated the scheme, which will be run in accordance with EU State Aid Rules.

Any aid will be confined to actual losses, will be conditional on more than 30% of the crop being destroyed and will be subject to limitations on the level of aid.

Leonard said: “I personally have seen some of the damage done to crops when doing my constituency work in recent weeks, and local growers have taken a big hit.

“It is an obvious statement to say that if your vegetable crop is ruined by severe frost there is no quick fix solution and cash flow is hit hard. I would therefore urge farmers to get the forms, complete them and then move on to the possibility of getting compensation.

“Our Sinn Fin offices in Dungiven and Kilrea have the details of where and how to get these forms and, I would stress that the deadline is Tuesday, March 9.”