The Department of Agriculture is finalising proposals to send to Brussels for the new €25m sheep scheme. The scheme will run under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and proposals must be submitted to the EU Commission by the end of this month if it is to run next year as proposed. The available funding could pay up to €10 per ewe.
The Department of Agriculture is finalising proposals to send to Brussels for the new €25m sheep scheme.
The scheme will run under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and proposals must be submitted to the EU Commission by the end of this month if it is to run next year as proposed. The available funding could pay up to €10 per ewe.
Some interest groups have proposed practical measures that farmers could implement, such as hoof care/foot bathing, scanning, flystrike prevention measures and faecal egg counting to inform worm resistance and treatment. Macra na Feirme has called for a 50% top-up for young farmers.
The youth organisation met with Department of Agriculture officials last week as part of a consultation process on the scheme.
Macra na Feirme National president Seán Finan said: “This top up will be essential for young farmers to develop their enterprises in an industry which is more accessible for those starting out due to the lower cost of establishment in comparison to other farming enterprises.”
IFA National Sheep chair John Lynskey said proposals from the factories to try and link the payment to EID is not acceptable as this would only impose additional costs and no farmer benefit.
He said imposing full EID, which would involve a cost of €3 for a twin lamb producing ewe, would effectively hand over 30% of the payment to tag suppliers and processors.
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