The Department of Agriculture has been urged to extend the deadline for compliance with the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) until 31 March 2021 by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA).

ICSA suckler chair Ger O’Brien said the closing of the marts, resulting in a lack of special sales, had made it difficult for farmers to buy in the necessary stock.

We must give farmers every opportunity to see the programme through to the end

“Many ICSA members have been receiving letters indicating whether they are currently on course to comply with or fall short of the targets laid out in the scheme,” O’Brien said.

“Our concern is with the inability of those who fall short of the targets at present to rectify their position in the current time frame, given that we are in the midst of a global pandemic.”

Opportunity

The ICSA believes the rule that precludes calves born this year, who are genotyped either four or five-star, from being included in the scheme should be waived. O’Brien said this could give farmers an opportunity to retain the necessary animals within their herd and avoid penalties.

“We are on the final leg of this ambitious scheme and we must give farmers every opportunity to see the programme through to the end. There can be no justification for penalising farmers, who have committed themselves to the scheme over a five-year period, for circumstances beyond their control.”