Simon Coveney hoping for late surge of entrants to genomics scheme
With just 12,600 applications filed to date of the 35,000 entrants anticipated, the minister hopes there is still time to quell suckler farmers’ concerns about the scheme before this Friday’s deadline.
He told potential applicants there would be time to withdraw from the scheme without penalty after the submission of applications. Farmers’ concerns relate to being tied into a six-year contract, and to penalties for their herds falling short of the scheme’s quality targets. Replacing existing cattle with four-star and five-star animals is central to the programme’s strategy to improve the Irish herd.
