Payments to herds who have met their 2016 BDGP requirements will commence next month the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, has announced.

“The commencement of these payments will ensure that vital funding is injected into the beef sector before the end of the year," Creed said. The programme, which is part of the Rural Development Programme, will benefit 24,000 Irish suckler farmers during the course of the programme’s six-year term.

In order to be eligible to receive payment in December all surveys in relation to animals born between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016 must be completed and returned to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) by 7 December and that all genotyping test kits must be submitted to the relevant laboratories by that date also.

In addition 2016 BDGP participants must complete a carbon navigator before 30 November 2016

“I strongly urge all BDGP participants to return all surveys and genotyping samples, and to arrange with their advisor to complete the carbon navigator, in order to receive payment in December," Creed said. “In the event that requirements have not been met within the specified timeframe, payments will continue to be made in the new year as herds continue to satisfy scheme requirements”.

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