Nine options for sheep farmers in new €10 per ewe scheme
Mr Lynskey welcomed the recent confirmation in the Budget by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed providing €25m funding for the scheme.
He said he expects the scheme will be finalised with the EU Commission before year-end, clearing the way for applications.
Mr Lynskey said €25m provides funding for up to 2.5m ewes, and it is very important that the maximum number of sheep farmers apply.
IFA has also outlined the need to accommodate young farmers and new entrants.
Mr Lynskey called for flexibility on numbers and scheme requirement options farmers can select to best suit their enterprise, and minimal administration.
Sheep farmers will have nine different options, outlined by the Department of Agriculture.
Two categories are envisaged, with farmers choosing an option from each category.
For lowland flocks, Category A options include carrying out five lameness examinations per year at prescribed times, recording incidence and scoring; or supplementing minerals to ewes after mating to help combat deficiencies, and reduce stillbirths and mortality.
Proposed for Category B are two faecal egg counts per annum to establish worm burdens; scanning ewes 80 days after ram turnout and marking, dividing and feeding according to litter size; a flystrike programme in high risk months of chemical control and dagging; and buying a three to five star rated ram per 40 ewes before the end of year three of the scheep scheme.
Category A proposed options for hill flocks are the mineral supplementation of ewes; and feeding a suitable lamb ration containing minerals for four weeks post weaning.
Category B proposed options are one faecal egg count on lambs for worms or one on ewes for liver fluke; the ewe scanning 80 days after ram turnout, supplementing lambs with minerals before weaning; and the star rated ram per 40 ewes, or a parentage recorded ram per 40 ewes for one breeding season before the end of year three.
The reference period for the maximum number of ewes eligible for payment will be based on the average of 2014 and 2015 ewes in the sheep census, with farmers paid on the actual numbers they apply for in 2016 or future years. Farmers in GLAS required to increase numbers as part of their Commonage Management Plan or Farm Plan will be paid on the higher numbers.
Recommendations from the EU Sheep Meat Forum have also been announced recently. What is their significance?
The Forum was established in the autumn of 2015 on the initiative of European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, and has put forward a positive policy roadmap to sustain the future of the EU sheep meat sector.
Chaired by former IFA President John Bryan from Ireland, assisted by Kevin Kinsella of IFA, the forum brought together participants from Member States with significant sheep meat production, and processors and traders in sheep mea.
Their report, recently presented to Commissioner Hogan, has called for strong CAP support for sheep farmers, including a new environmental payment, and a new EU sheepmeat communications and promotion programme.
The EU sheep meat sector can be described as vulnerable or sensitive, due low farm incomes, dependence on direct supports, declining consumption, low productivity, and the higher average age profile of both sheep farmers and consumers.
However, positive opportunities include its position as a supplier of a premium quality lamb product to an EU market that is only 87% self-sufficient, and the positive role of sheep in enhancing the environment.
A key theme to emerge from the EU Sheep Meat Forum was the necessity for strong support to primary producers through CAP direct payments, and recognition of the vital role of sheep in enhancing the environment.
The second theme to fully capture and enhance the market opportunity of 500m EU consumers, building a strong preference for EU lamb by communicating its positive features of the natural and sustainable production credentials of the product.
