Details of new farm payments emerge

The first details of proposals for new farm support payments in NI have started to emerge.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands the plan includes a headage payment worth between £140-160/head for suckler cows.

However, only cows on land which is classified as severely disadvantaged area or disadvantaged area will be eligible for the new suckler efficiency payment, meaning lowland farms are excluded from the scheme.

Beef finisher payment

A beef efficiency payment worth around £40-50/head on prime cattle will be available for beef finishers, regardless of land type. Initial plans for a headage payment for breeding ewes have now been dropped by DAERA.

A broad agri-environment programme, to be known as the Farming for Nature Scheme, is included in the proposals for new farm support.

The new area-based payment, known as the Income Resilience Measure, will be based on the entitlements that each farm business already holds under the current Basic Payment Scheme

All these new measures will be funded from gradual deductions in area-based payments from 2023 onwards.

However, a limit on how far payments will be reduced has not been set under the current plans.

The new area-based payment, known as the Income Resilience Measure, will be based on the entitlements that each farm business already holds under the current Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

However, entitlements will be spread across the entire farm area and not just the land that is deemed eligible under current BPS rules.

It means that all land, including areas of bushes and rushes, will be eligible for the new Income Resilience Measure.

A top-up payment for disadvantaged areas, similar to the former Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme, is not included in the proposals.

Full details of the plans, including proposed eligibility requirements for each new scheme, are to be included in a consultation document which is due to be published by DAERA shortly.

It will cause us huge problems

Speaking at a meeting in Plumbridge last week, UFU president Victor Chesnutt expressed disappointment that lowland farms have been left out of the suckler cow headage payment.

“It will cut out about 20% of our sucklers. It will cause us huge problems within the union and will lead to a lot of arguments I would think,” he said.

Although lamb prices have held up well this year, Chestnutt suggested that DAERA may need to revisit plans for a headage payment for ewes if financial returns come under pressure again.

“DAERA said they would leave room to look at a sheep efficiency payment if needed, but initially they are just going to look at suckler cows and beef animals,” he said.