BDGP payments next month if data submitted by 8 December, says Coveney

The news comes despite the fact that Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) chief executive, Sean Coughlan, warned the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture that unless the genotype samples from the remaining 9,000 farmers was returned by 1 December, it was unlikely their applications would be processed in time to receive payment before Christmas.

The latest statement from the minister gives participating farmers one more week to meet the scheme’s obligations.

Minister Coveney announced this Monday that the Department intends to make payments under the BDGP in December to herds who have met their 2015 requirements.

“I am delighted that BDGP payments are on target to commence in December in respect of the first year of a participant’s six-year contract,” said Coveney. “I strongly urge all BDGP participants to return all surveys and genotyping samples in order to receive payment in December. In the event that all surveys and samples have not been submitted within the specified timeframe, payments will continue to be made in the New Year as herds continue to satisfy scheme requirements.”

New tagging system on the cards

Last week, the Irish Farmers Journal revealed a new cattle tagging system may be on the way. The Department has said that it is aware that a company has developed a tissue tag that is capable of taking a tissue sample that could be analysed in laboratory for BVD and DNA without compromising the accuracy of either process.

In a statement issued to the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department said it has “asked the company concerned for samples of these tags with a view to verifying these claims.

“However, the current contract for the supply of bovine tags is valid until October 2016 and a public procurement competition will be held in 2016 for the supply of bovine tags under a new contract. The issue of using a single tissue tag for the purposes of BVD and DNA will be taken in the context of that tender.”