There will be no further allocations to NI farmers from the current COVID-19 support fund, a DAERA spokesperson has confirmed.

“Given we have now passed the middle of February, it would not be possible to spend any additional funding before the end of this financial year,” the spokesperson said.

The budget for COVID-19 support schemes was made up of £25m from the NI Executive, plus an additional £3.6m from DAERA funds.

Initially, £11m was set aside for dairy farmers, £7m for the beef sector, £1.6m for potatoes, £1.6m for ornamental horticulture and £232,000 for sheep.

More recently, pig finishers were allocated £2.2m and the hatching egg sector is to receive £2m.

Overall, these funding allocations equate to just over £25.6m, which suggests £3m is potentially left over.

“In the event that specific evidence of need for further support in this financial year is identified, DAERA will liaise as appropriate with the Department of Finance to secure additional resources if required,” the department spokesperson said.

Representatives from the NI sheep sector have been pressing for COVID-19 support due to the collapse in wool prices over the past year.

However, it is understood that several issues have been raised with the request. For example, wool payments make up a small proportion of overall income on sheep farms, and not all of the 2020 clip that was supplied to Ulster Wool has been sold to date.