Department launches €6m badger biosecurity scheme to tackle Bovine TB

Farmers can receive up to 40% on a maximum of €2,000 expenditure on badger biosecurity material

The scheme will allow farmers to purchase fencing materials for fencing off badger setts to exclude cattle from the area around the opening of setts, as well as purchase eligible water troughs and feed troughs, which impede badger access from eligible participating co-operatives and agri-retail merchants. File picture

The On-Farm Badger Biosecurity Scheme, which will partially fund actions to minimise contact between badgers and livestock, has been launched.

This scheme comes under ‘Measure 2: Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB,’ from the Bovine TB Action Plan, agriculture minister Martin Heydon published last year and is now open for farmers' applications until May 31, 2026.