New farmers miss out on Covid fund

“I started milking cows last November on a newly purchased farm on the outskirts of Strabane,” explained Lewis Ogilby.

“I put my life savings into the venture, which was only made possible with the availability of a top-up business loan.

“Milk prices have come under pressure, as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. However, I have been told that I am I ineligible for the government’s self employed support payment because I cannot produce three years’ accounts.

“And there may well be other support measures that I cannot avail of for the very same reasons. This seems totally unfair.

“I am 32 years-of-age and, up to now, was of the view that the government wanted young men like me to come into the farming industry.”

Lewis, who hails originally from the town of Carrickfergus, does not have a traditional farming background.

“As a teenager, I had the opportunity of working on a number of neighbouring beef farms.

“This gave me the bug for agriculture, which led me to studying at Greenmount.

“While there I was involved in the Cream Herd project. As part of the course, I was offered the opportunity of working on a large scale dairy farm in New Zealand for 12 months.

“Between 2010 and 2018, I worked on Almari farms in Saudi Arabia. This provided me with the opportunity to work on some of the world’s best managed dairy units in the world.”

Upon returning home Lewis had the firm intention of setting up his own dairy farming business.

“Initially, I looked at a share farming opportunity. But that didn’t work out. Last year, the option of buying a turn-key dairy farm close to Strabane presented itself. With the help of a business loan from HSBC,I managed to get the deal over the line.

“I am currently milking 120 cows, supplying the milk to Aurivo Co-op. Last month, I received a base price of 24 pence for my milk. And I have no idea how milk prices will fare over the coming months.

“At 24 pence I can just about cover my outgoings, including the bank loan. But I am left with very little to live on.

“I was gutted to find out that I was not eligible for the Covid-19 self employment payment. It would make a real and positive difference to my circumstances right now. I started up the new farm last November because it was the right thing for me to do at that time. I had no idea that Covid-19 was coming down the track.”

Lewis is also concerned that he may not be eligible for the £25m Covid-19 support package, recently announced by Northern Ireland’s farm minister Edwin Poots MLA.

He concluded: “It is vitally important that all new farm entrants are made eligible for this payment.”