Suckler cow payments begin this week

Payments to over 32,000 suckler cow farmers under the 2014 Beef Data Programme will start this week, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney announced yesterday.

The payments are in two tranches this year. The first is an 80% advance. The balancing payment will issue when data on autumn- born calves has been finalised.

Mr Coveney said the programme assists farmers in improving the genetic quality of their livestock, while maintaining a flow of crucial data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation.