To provide clarity for farmers, the Department of Agriculture has published a list of common questions it has received since the Government’s "stay at home" phase of COVID-19 restrictions was introduced.

The general guidance is for employers and employees and the self-employed, including farmers, to decide whether they are providing an essential service. The Department has stressed it is not the arbiter of this, and it is up to the individual to make own decision based on their circumstances.

While farmers in general can continue to work, those over 70 should take additional precautions, outlined here.

Will the Department be issuing letters to show that someone is an essential worker?

The Department will not be issuing letters to show that someone is an essential worker and there is no need to seek official authorisation from the Department.

A list of essential services can be found here.

Farmers should carry one form of identification in case they are stopped by gardaí. Employees engaged in essential work should carry either a work identification card or a letter from their employer indicating that they are an essential employee and one other form of identification.

A sample letter can be found here.

Can I move my animals?/Can I move my animals more than 2km?

Farmers are permitted to move their animals as part of the business of farming, which is an essential service. There is no restriction on the distance but the Department asks that farmers reflect on whether such movement is actually essential at a particular point in time.

Marts have reopened but services will be limited, as detailed here.

Can I arrange for a knackery service to collect dead animals from my farm?

Knackeries are an essential service associated with farming and will continue.

Other essential services such as vets, merchants, and contractors are continuing to operate also, subject to tighter restrictions.

Are there changes to the BVD sampling arrangements?

There are no changes to BVD arrangements. Farmers must continue to tissue tag calves as soon as possible after birth and submit the sample to the designated BVD laboratories for testing as normal, the Department says.

Farm bodies have offered assistance where farmers are unable to submit samples, for example, due to self-isolation or cocooning. Currently, turnaround times for tissue tag testing are largely unaffected, but this may be subject to change.

Do I need to avoid contact with livestock if I am infected with COVID-19?

The Department says that it is best that you do. The HSE currently advise that people infected with COVID-19 or self-isolating should remain indoors. Arrangements should be made for someone else to care for your animals.

There have been reports of a very small number of animals becoming infected with the virus and it would be sensible to take precautions until further information is available. People who test positive should avoid close contact with animals and organise for someone else to care for all livestock.

Will farm inspections continue and will farm payments be made on time?

For the time being the Department has suspended all on-farm inspections, however, some will continue remotely or by phone. To avoid delays to payments the Department has not extended the deadline to submit BPS applications but has allowed an extra two weeks for derogation applications

A Department new telephone information line to assist farmers with their queries in relation to current COVID-19 restrictions will be in place from 1 April and the dedicated phone number is 076-106 4468.