Payments under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) have been issued to the majority of those participating in the scheme under a farm partnership.

In January, some 630 farm partnerships were awaiting payment under the scheme, with 550 of these now receiving payment.

2021 participation

A Department of Agriculture spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that €2m in BDGP payments were issued this week.

Payments will continue to be made under the programme over the coming weeks

“This week, payments totalling some €2m in respect of 2020 were made to 802 Beef Data and Genomics Programme participants, including 550 partnership cases.

“Payments will continue to be made under the programme over the coming weeks, as participating farmers’ compliance with scheme requirements are verified,” the spokesperson said.

Some 80 farm partnerships are still awaiting payment under the scheme.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed 17,592, or 85% of the 20,715 farmers eligible, have chosen to extend their participation in BDGP for 2021.

After a relatively low initial response rate, there was a significant increase in the final few days before the confirmation cut-off date. Scheme requirements remain the same as in 2020.

BEEP scheme opening

Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has been called upon to reopen the third iteration of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) Scheme.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) said suckler farmers needed certainty that the funding secured for the sector in Budget 2021 would allow them to participate in the scheme.

INHFA president Colm O’Donnell pointed out that suckler cows with calves born since 1 July 2020 were ready for weaning

The INHFA met with the minister and his officials to discuss the issue, insisting that the scheme be opened without further delay.

INHFA president Colm O’Donnell pointed out that suckler cows with calves born since 1 July 2020 were ready for weaning, and pairings of cows and calves needed to be weighed and meal fed pre-weaning.

These actions are necessary to comply with the terms of the scheme.

O’Donnell advised participating suckler farmers to weigh their cow and calf pairings, register the results with the ICBF in a similar way to last year, introduce meal feeding pre-weaning, have receipts for the meal and keep a record of the dates each task was carried out on.