€45M beef schemes open

Applications are open for beef schemes worth €45M to livestock farmers including the Beef Sector Efficiency Programme – Sucklers (BEEP-S) as well as the Dairy Beef Calf measure.

Minister for Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has welcomed the launch of the schemes, which she said are aimed at driving further efficiencies within the livestock sectors.

In relation to BEEP-S, Minister Humphreys said: “Suckler and beef farming are the backbone of many rural communities and are a key part of the foundation of our €13.5bn agri-food export sector. BEEP-S has proven to be a farmer-friendly scheme that provides an important income support as well as driving further genetic improvements in the sector.”

Dairy Beef Calf Measure

With a budget of €5 million this year, the core action is the weighing of eligible calves, for which there is a payment of €20 per calf, up to a maximum of 40 calves increased from 20 in the pilot measure.

BEEP-S

BEEP (S) has a funding provision of €40 million in 2022 and targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves by measuring the live weight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's live weight. Applicants can also select from a number of optional health and welfare measures including meal feeding or vaccination of weanlings and/or faecal egg testing of suckler cows.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue hailed the success of the scheme with approximately 30,000 participants last year.

The Minister outlined that under BEEP–S, participants may be eligible for up to €90 for the first 10 suckler cow/calf pairs per herd and up to €80 per pair thereafter subject to an overall maximum of 100 pairs per herd, subject to eligibility/compliance.

Applications

Applications both both schemes can be made through agfood.ie with a closing date on Monday, April 25.

Participants in the 2021 scheme who wish to participate in this year’s measure must submit a new application.

The full terms and conditions for both measures under the Beef Sector Efficiency Pilot are available at gov.ie