Thousands of farmers face paying back BEAM payments

The total being recouped is at this point is €5.2m, with the average per affected farmer at €1,700

Of the 3,600 farmers, 2,396 increased their nitrogen (stocking rate) during the reduction period. The 3,600 farmers will have some or all of the BEAM money they received in 2019 recouped. Picture: iStock

Some or all of the money that 3,600 beef farmers were paid from the BEAM scheme in 2019 will have to handed back.

The €77m payment scheme required participating farmers to reduce by 5% their bovine organic nitrogen produced on the farm, over two years.