IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has called for the urgent publication of the detailed provisions of the Calf Investment Scheme, which is to open for applications today, 7th January. It was announced before Christmas by the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed.
Tom Phelan added that additional funds must be provided in the case of oversubscription.
“The scheme is an important element in supporting farmers who will need to manage increased numbers of dairy calves next spring. While the €1.5m funding is welcome, this is equivalent to only €1 per calf born within the dairy herd. Should the scheme be oversubscribed, it would be vital that additional funding would be made available,” Mr Phelan said.
“An informative FAQ has been published, but there are no detailed specs available for the type of equipment which will be deemed eligible, nor is there any indication of how quickly farmers will know whether their application has been approved. Given the need for farmers to take prompt action before the impending calving period, it is crucial that the fullest details be published by the Department urgently,” he concluded.
