Following the passing of the EU regulation on the €100m Brexit beef fund in Brussels last week, IFA president Joe Healy said Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed must ensure the funding is paid immediately.

Healy said the clearance of the regulation paves the way for the Department of Agriculture to pay out the funds to farmers.

“The IFA is clear that the funding must go to farmers who sold prime finished cattle since last autumn, and to suckler farmers. We have set out six principles as regards how the funding should be allocated. This has received strong support at our eight regional meetings.

Minister Creed and the Department of Agriculture have to make their submission by 31 July. It should be done without delay and in a manner that will simplify the payments to farmers,” he said.

We have expressed very strong views at the meetings, opposing any requirements in respect of production reduction or any other conditionality not related to the retrospective Brexit beef price losses.

The IFA’s six principles on the €100m Brexit beef fund are as follows:

  • The fund is for beef farmers and must be paid to beef farmers. It is not for factories, factory feedlots or factory owned cattle, agents or dealers.
  • The fund should be targeted to farmers who incurred the losses and the sectors who need it most in terms of income.
  • The money should be targeted to farmers who sold prime finished cattle since last autumn and suckler farmers. Prime cattle are steers, heifers and young bulls.
  • The fund must be paid out quickly and directly to farmers.
  • Finished cattle sold in the marts must be included.
  • DAFM has all the data on the AIMs system to enable accurate targeting of the funds.