IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has strongly encouraged all eligible beef and suckler farmers to apply for the new €100m BEAM scheme (Beef Exceptional Aid Measure).
The scheme will open next Monday, Aug 19th and close on Sunday, Sept 8th.
He said the Department of Agriculture have published the terms and conditions for the scheme, which sets out the details of how €100 per finished animal and €40 per suckler cow can be drawn down by farmers.
“IFA campaigned very hard to secure this €100m funding. It’s essential that all eligible farmers apply. All of the money must be drawn down and paid out to farmers as soon as possible as they are in real financial need because of the crisis in the sector,” he said.
Angus Woods said despite some of the restrictive conditions imposed by Minister Creed and the EU Commission, farmers should make an application and the Minister must ensure that the €100m is paid out in full.
IFA has insisted that finished cattle sold in the mart are also eligible for the scheme and Angus Woods said these farmers should make sure to apply.
Based on data presented by the Department of Agriculture, over 37,000 beef finishers and 55,000 suckler farmers are eligible.
