Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has been called on to remove the 5% reduction requirement as a condition for the €100m BEAM Scheme by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).
INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said there were major misgivings expressed by members of the group’s beef committee around the conditionality of the scheme.
To date, 21,341 famrers have signed up, with some 50,000 eligble farmers yet to submit an application.
O'Donnell said Ireland had the option to choose between restructuring the beef sector or a production reduction and “for whatever reason choose the latter".
This decision was a major issue for the committee, which felt it could undermine future supports for the suckler sector.
Regulation
The implementing regulation for the BEAM Scheme stated the measures taken by Ireland “shall be aimed at reducing production or restructuring the beef sector” and one or more of the following objectives:
Implementation of quality schemes in the beef and veal sector or projects aiming at promoting quality and value added.Boosting market diversification.Protecting and improving the farmers’ environmental, climate and economic sustainability.Concerns
O’Donnell said: “The concern expressed to us with regard to the reduction requirement is a concern felt by many farmers, as reflected in the poor uptake by farmers, which has necessitated an extension to the scheme's closing date.
“While we anticipate these numbers will increase as a result of the promotion by the Department of Agriculture and other State bodies, farmers, and in particular our suckler farmers, have sent a message that should not be ignored.”
The scheme, he said, was introduced as a support for losses incurred by farmers as a result of Brexit uncertainty and its use to “drive another agenda is an issue that has angered farmers”.
O’Donnell demanded the removal of the production reduction and replacement with a re-structuring of the beef sector, based on a 10-point plan developed by the INHFA.
Read more
BEAM closing date extended
Check your entitlement for BEAM now - ICOS
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has been called on to remove the 5% reduction requirement as a condition for the €100m BEAM Scheme by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).
INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said there were major misgivings expressed by members of the group’s beef committee around the conditionality of the scheme.
To date, 21,341 famrers have signed up, with some 50,000 eligble farmers yet to submit an application.
O'Donnell said Ireland had the option to choose between restructuring the beef sector or a production reduction and “for whatever reason choose the latter".
This decision was a major issue for the committee, which felt it could undermine future supports for the suckler sector.
Regulation
The implementing regulation for the BEAM Scheme stated the measures taken by Ireland “shall be aimed at reducing production or restructuring the beef sector” and one or more of the following objectives:
Implementation of quality schemes in the beef and veal sector or projects aiming at promoting quality and value added.Boosting market diversification.Protecting and improving the farmers’ environmental, climate and economic sustainability.Concerns
O’Donnell said: “The concern expressed to us with regard to the reduction requirement is a concern felt by many farmers, as reflected in the poor uptake by farmers, which has necessitated an extension to the scheme's closing date.
“While we anticipate these numbers will increase as a result of the promotion by the Department of Agriculture and other State bodies, farmers, and in particular our suckler farmers, have sent a message that should not be ignored.”
The scheme, he said, was introduced as a support for losses incurred by farmers as a result of Brexit uncertainty and its use to “drive another agenda is an issue that has angered farmers”.
O’Donnell demanded the removal of the production reduction and replacement with a re-structuring of the beef sector, based on a 10-point plan developed by the INHFA.
Read more
BEAM closing date extended
Check your entitlement for BEAM now - ICOS
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