Ms Claire McGlynn:

The lack of awareness is a significant issue for farmers looking for the farm assist scheme. We mentioned earlier that it is becoming more prominent on the eastern seaboard. With the lack of income and fluctuations farm assist is becoming more important but due to poor historic awareness people are not aware of what is involved in it.

There definitely needs to be more awareness of what is involved in the means assessment. Also, there is a stigma around applying for farm assist due, I suppose, to a mindset that they are getting onto a social welfare payment. It is important to make people aware that the scheme is there as an assist for farmers.