Just under 29,000 sign up for BDGP
The extension to the initial closing date resulted in extra applications, however the figure of under 29,000 falls short of the 35,000 farmers which Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney had hoped would join the scheme.
Over 1,000 farmers attended an IFA meeting last week in Claremorris, Co Mayo, where the concerns of farmers relating to the BDGP were made very clear.
IFA Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said farmers remained concerned about the six-year rule and clawbacks.
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that “where an applicant sells or leases his/her land, or transfers it by inheritance or gift, there will be no clawback of funds”.
A spokesperson added, “Of course, where an applicant retains sufficient land to fulfill the requirements of the programme (the maximum payable area), he/she is required to continue to meet its terms and conditions on an ongoing basis”.
Each applicant will receive a mini-statement from the Department of Agriculture in the coming weeks, which will indicate their reference cow number, based on their 2014 numbers.
It will also specify the maximium payable area, and the eurostar rating of the heifers currently in the herd.
Payments to farmers under the 2014 Beef Data Programme will commence in the next two weeks, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Payment is made on each eligible calf up to a limit of 50 calves, following compliance with all the undertakings of the Scheme.
For the first 30 calves born into the herd in 2014, €20 will be paid, and €10 for the next 20 calves.
ICBF has alerted farmers to input any missing data required for the scheme.
The data can be recorded through the ICBF website, farm software packages or on paper forms.
The deadline for recording data on calves born in November and December of 2014 is June 30, 2015.
All 2014 born calves are now old enough to record quality, docility and any scour or pneumonia events.
