The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) could reopen to new entrants in 2017, the Irish Farmers Journal has learned.

The Department of Agriculture is “considering reopening the scheme”, a Department spokesperson confirmed, adding that the decision was being taken in the overall context of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and would take into account budgetary demands for 2017 and beyond.

Based on the existing BDGP programme, the 2017 applications could tie in with a similar time frame for submitting applications for the Basic Payment Scheme.

Lobby

IFA national livestock chair Angus Woods said: “IFA has been lobbying the Department of Agriculture hard for the BDGP to reopen and secured a commitment from Minister Creed on this in last year’s Budget.

“We expect the BDGP to reopen to new entrants this spring and it is vitally important that farmers who join the scheme this year will get paid before year end.”

Woods is also calling on the Department to ensure any new scheme starting in 2017 will run for six years until 2022. The existing scheme commenced in 2015 and will run until 2020.

It got off to a shaky start with 24,500 active participants remaining and Woods is targeting adding 5,000 applicants if BDGP reopens.

On 2016 payments, Woods added: “€39m was paid out under the 2016 scheme late last year to almost 21,000 farmers, with €44m paid to over 24,000 applicants in 2015. IFA is pushing to get any outstanding cases paid and to get farmers to complete outstanding data requirements.

“Inspections and BVD are the major issues holding up payments. It is important that the Department of Agriculture adopts a more flexible approach on the commitments producers have to make over the duration of their participation in the BDGP.”