IFA President Tim Cullinan has welcomed the announcement from Minister Dara Calleary on the details of the Beef Finisher payment scheme.
€50m had been announced in June in recognition of the difficulties that beef finishers had endured because of Brexit and COVID-19 disruption.
Tim Cullinan said it’s crucial that the money gets out to farmers as soon as possible and that the full €50m is spent.
“There should be a provision to increase the payment per animal if there is any underspend,” he said.
IFA National Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden encouraged farmers to apply once the scheme opens in two weeks’ time on August 19th.
“The scheme will apply to farmers who had cattle slaughtered between February 1st and June 12th. It’s expected the payment will be in the region of €100 per head. This will be a significant boost for the Autumn cattle trade,” he said.
The following are the qualifying criteria:
An estimated 42,000 farmers will be eligible to apply for the scheme, which will be based on the number of cattle sent for slaughter in the period from 1 February to 12 June 2020, subject to a limit of 100 animals per herd. Based on estimates of eligible animals, a rate in the region of €100 per animal will be payable.
The opening date for applications will be 19 August 2020 and the closing date will be 9 September 2020.
Applications will be made online through the agfood.ie portal.
‘Eligible animals’ slaughtered:
- Slaughtered in the reference period of 1 February to 12 June 2020.
- Aged 8 months or more when slaughtered
- Resident on the qualifying herd for at least 30 days prior to slaughter (if not the previous owner is eligible for payment if they are an applicant and have had the animal for over 30 days on their holding)
- Animals identified on the Department systems as presented for slaughter by or on behalf of a factory will not be eligible.
- Subject to a cap on payments in respect of 100 eligible animals per herd.
Eligible applicants:
- A farmer who has presented animals for slaughter in the reference period
- The holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner Status.
- Farming a holding in respect of which a valid Basic Payment Scheme application has been submitted in 2020 to the Department.
- Agent or Dealer herd numbers are not eligible for payment
- Conditionality: Applicant must be a member of the Bord Bia Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme at the time of application, or undertake to become a member of a quality scheme prior to 30 September 2020.
