DAERA officials have begun planning emergency support for NI farmers in the event of farmgate prices collapsing due to coronavirus.

Senior civil servants met with representatives from local farmer organisations earlier this week to discuss what support measures would be needed in each farming sector if markets failed.

Speaking in Stormont, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots told MLAs that DAERA has legal powers to give aid in exceptional market conditions.

Mince and forequarter meat, for example, are flying out the doors, but steaks, which account for a third of the value of the carcase, are not

“That is something that we are currently looking at, given COVID-19,” Minister Poots said.

He pointed to pressure in the beef trade, where the food service market has been hit with closure of restaurants and the catering trade.

“Mince and forequarter meat, for example, are flying out the doors, but steaks, which account for a third of the value of the carcase, are not,” he said.

The DUP politician also referred to turbulent dairy markets, as well as the reduction in lamb exports. “Already we see a distortion in the market,” he added.

The ultimate concern in the coronavirus crisis is an inability to process products due to factory closure or staff shortages.

With agriculture being a devolved matter in the UK, it is up to the NI Executive and DAERA to put in place schemes to support the NI farming industry.