The €1.5m measure opened last month after long and tense negotiations including a protest by IFA grain committee members occupying the Department of Agriculture's head office in Dublin.

Farmers who lost over 50% of their usual spring wheat, barley, oats or oilseed rape crop can apply for €300/ha compensation on up to 35ha. Losses between 30% and 50% are eligible to a payment of €200/ha up to 35ha.

All losses must concern off-farm sales and be backed up with documents.

'Awkward situations'

IFA grain chair Liam Dunne told the Irish Farmers Journal on Friday morning that he was "inundated with calls" from farmers completing their applications. Some have found themselves in "awkward situations" with the rules of the scheme. "One went to his accountant who said there was no loss showing in his accounts," Dunne said. However, this was corrected once the effects of grain storage were taken into account and the 2016 harvest considered separately from the strict calendar year accounts.

The Department of Agriculture's Portlaoise office must receive all applications this Friday at the latest. There is no specific time given in the scheme's terms and conditions. Some farmers said they were driving there today to submit documents. Dunne said the IFA would not seek an extension as the scheme had been a long time coming and payments should not be delayed any further.

The Department and Dunne said that the number of applicants would be known next week.

Read more

Everything you need to know about the crop loss support scheme