€35m had been allocated to suckler cows under BEAM. \ Philip Doyle
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The underspend in the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) is a result of the “forced reduction” conditionality attached to the scheme, according to the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA).
INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said just €35m had been allocated to suckler cows due to the requirement for herd to reduce bovine nitrogen output by 5%.
This discriminated against small suckler herds as “a forced reduction would deteriorate the resilience and sustainability of the beef sector in naturally constrained areas", O’Donnell said.
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He called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to adjust the scheme's terms and conditions to allow more suckler farmers to apply.
Terms and conditions
“The minister has the power to interpret or redefine the meaning of any aspect of the terms and conditions, including the flexibility to adjust the level of financial aid wherever specified in the measure,” he said.
The INHFA also called for a top-up payment to be made on the first 10 suckler cows to ensure all available funds were drawn down.
At the Ploughing last week, the minister said the 5% reduction condition could not be removed. The Irish Farmers Journal also understands that payment rates cannot be increased.
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The underspend in the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) is a result of the “forced reduction” conditionality attached to the scheme, according to the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA).
INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said just €35m had been allocated to suckler cows due to the requirement for herd to reduce bovine nitrogen output by 5%.
This discriminated against small suckler herds as “a forced reduction would deteriorate the resilience and sustainability of the beef sector in naturally constrained areas", O’Donnell said.
He called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to adjust the scheme's terms and conditions to allow more suckler farmers to apply.
Terms and conditions
“The minister has the power to interpret or redefine the meaning of any aspect of the terms and conditions, including the flexibility to adjust the level of financial aid wherever specified in the measure,” he said.
The INHFA also called for a top-up payment to be made on the first 10 suckler cows to ensure all available funds were drawn down.
At the Ploughing last week, the minister said the 5% reduction condition could not be removed. The Irish Farmers Journal also understands that payment rates cannot be increased.
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