Farmers raise beef data issues
IFA president Eddie Downey said the turnout of thousands of farmers at a series of eight IFA meetings highlighted their concerns about aspects of the scheme.
The concerns relate to the inflexibility of the six-year rule and clawbacks, the 2014 reference year, young farmers, the 60% genomic testing, star ratings, replacement requirements, penalties and other issues.
Mr Downey said there is a responsibility on the minister to address the concerns of suckler farmers and provide assurances to ensure the €52m in funding is paid out annually to farmers.
IFA Livestock Committee chairman Henry Burns said the minister needs to provide the necessary assurances and flexibilities within the scheme to resolve these issues.
Mr Coveney has, meanwhile, extended the deadline for applications under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme until Friday to give as many farmers as possible the opportunity to apply for what he descrbed as “this excellent scheme.”
However, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president Patrick Kent said farmer anger at the restrictions of the new programme is growing.
