Scheme to boost flock

THE three-year, €54m grassland sheep scheme will maintain the breeding flock and be a real incentive to farmers to sustain production levels, says Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith.

The requirements to qualifying for payments are maintenance of sheep, completion of the sheep census return, and submission of the SPS application form by the May 17, 2010 closing date.

The rates of aid for the scheme are €30 per hectare in mountain areas of zero to 20 hectares, and €25 per hectare in mountain areas of 20 to 84 hectares, and €70 per hectare of lowland areas.