Funds set to improve beef quality

DETAILS of national envelope funds to improve the overall quality of the beef-breeding herd were announced yesterday by Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh.

This is in line with the recommendations of the Beef Task Force and the Agri-Food 2010 Action Plan, which had emphasised the need for top quality cattle suitable for the EU market.

Mr Walsh said the funds available under the national envelope for distribution in 2003 amounted to 31.4m.

This amount is additional to the allocation of 824m which will be spent this year in supporting beef producers through the various premia schemes.

He said he had also decided to continue with the three support measures already in place to encourage continued emphasis on quality beef production.

The three support measures are top-ups of 10.4m on the slaughter premium on beef breed heifers, 10.5m on replacement heifers in the suckler cow herd and 10.5m on dry heifers qualifying for the suckler cow premium up to a maximum of 15% of the number of qualifying animals.

Mr Walsh said the support for dry heifers would assist those farmers who would lose out as a result of the more restrictive interpretation by the EU Commission of the new requirement on producers with 14 or more suckler cows to include heifers for at least 15% of their suckler cow application.

The minister also increased the milk quota threshold for small-scale milk producers participating in the suckler cow premium scheme from its existing limit of 161,250 litres (35,470 gallons) to 180,000 litres (39,594 gallons).

He has also decided to maintain for another year the 50 head exemption and the headage limit of 180 head per holding per age category under the Special Beef Premium scheme.