The Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme for farm businesses and other small business affected by flood damage, opened for applications from Monday of this week.
The application period runs until April 30 and is for those affected during the period from November 7 2015 to January 32 2016
The Department of the Environment said it is a one off scheme provided to deal with the unique circumstances caused by the heavy rainfall during the period highlighted.
The Scheme will provide flood assistance of £1,000 to non-domestic properties and small businesses, including farm businesses. 
The scheme has a range of criteria:
- The claim is eligible where a loss incurred was not insurable;
- Only small businesses can apply (employing less than 25 people);
- Farm businesses will include farmyards and land farmed by the business;
- Farmland must have been underwater for at least 14 days and incurred additional cost due to reduced productivity or unplanned sward restoration / reseeding work;
- Businesses must have been unable to operate due to constrained access for at least 14 days; and
- Businesses must be able to demonstrate a remedial cost to the business of at least £1,000.
“Only farmers whose land farmed has been significantly affected as a result of sustained high levels in Lough Neagh and Lough Erne will be considered.
Further guidance is available on the council websites.