BDGP

What is it?

The six-year Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) has two objectives. The first is to lower the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of the national beef herd. The second is to improve the genetic merit of the national beef herd through the collection of data and genotypes of selected animals, which will allow for the application of genomic selection in the beef herd.

When was it launched and what was the closing date?

The BDGP was launched on 5 May 2015 and the closing date for applications was 5 June 2015.

What scheme has it replaced?

Although not a direct replacement, the scheme follows on from the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, which covered issues relating to animal welfare, breeding and recordkeeping. This scheme ran from 1 September 2009 until 1 April 2013.

When will farmers know if they have been accepted into the scheme and how much payment can successful applicants expect?

The 29,000 farmers who applied for the BDGP before this year’s closing date were accepted into the programme. All the farmers who entered the scheme and had no outstanding issues received their €uro-Star report in September. Farmers then had to decide, based on the report, whether it was viable for them to remain in the scheme. Some 700 farmers exited the scheme in late September following receipt of their reports.

Those remaining in the programme will receive a payment of €142.50 per hectare for the first 6.66 payable hectares under the scheme, and €120 per payable hectare after that. The eligible hectares on which an applicant is entitled to claim will be equal to the number of calved cows on his/her holding in 2014 (known as reference animals) divided by a standard stocking rate of 1.5. This payment is based on the farmer fulfilling six separate requirements and is due to start in mid-December 2015.

Is there another chance to apply to the scheme?

No. The BDGP had only one open period for applications, which opened in May 2015 and closed the following month.

NB: The first of the Department’s BDGP information meetings will be held this evening, Monday 12 October, in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, at 8pm.

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