Roscommon IFA County Livestock Chairman, John O’Beirne, has urged suckler farmers to apply for the new Beef Environmental and Efficiency Pilot Scheme and draw down the €40 per cow payment. The application period runs until February 22nd.
He said: “IFA fought a hard campaign in the last Budget and secured additional funding of €20m for sucklers and it is very important that farmers apply for the scheme. The €40 payment for sucklers is not enough and the IFA is determined to continue the campaign to get targeted payments up to €200 per cow for sucklers.
“The application process for the scheme is very simple and just requires farmers to sign the form and submit it to the Department of Agriculture.
“Farmers will have to weigh their cows and calves once during the year, between March 8th and November 1st, and submit the data to ICBF. Payment will be made in respect of suckler calves born on the holding between July 1st 2018 and June 30th 2019”.
Mr. O’Beirne added that the Department of Agriculture will make 400 scales available to farmers through co-op marts around the country. He said it is essential that costs to farmers for this service are kept to an absolute minimum. In addition, farmers will be able to use their own scales and suckler farmers do not have to be participating in the BDGP scheme to qualify for BEEP.
