Weaning rules catch many out

There are probably just as many difficulties with the smaller schemes as there are with the direct payment schemes which are worth €1.8bn annually to Irish farmers.

Weaning rules have caught out many farmers in the Suckler Scheme

Fairly typical is a farmer who registered 31 beef breed animals in the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, the calves should have been weaned in at least two groups. This applicant provided information that he had weaned all the animals together. Therefore the animals were not eligible for payment.