The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) needs not to expect the Department to help it out of the potential funding crisis.In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said that it will not provide additional funding to the ICBF on top of the grant aid the federation already receives.
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) needs not to expect the Department to help it out of the potential funding crisis.
In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said that it will not provide additional funding to the ICBF on top of the grant aid the federation already receives.
“Whilst the Department does provide a grant in aid to the ICBF, the responsibility for the overall funding of the ICBF is a matter for the board and shareholders of the organisation,” the statement reads.
Changes to the tag order form make it easier for farmers to opt out of contributing to ICBF when buying cattle tags. The 38c/animal levy contributes €850,000 to the non-profit organisation which provides cattle breeding information services to both the dairy and beef industries.
Support ICBF
Former IFA general secretary Michael Berkery has called on farmers to continue to pay the tag levy to the ICBF. In his address to over 500 farmers at the AHI Cell Check awards last Thursday, he said that the continuous development of ICBF was critical to improving farm efficiencies and ultimately farm profitability.
Berkery, a longstanding supporter of ICBF and instrumental in its establishment, highlighted how better breeding facilitated through ICBF had delivered over €500m for Irish dairy farmers.
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