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Independent TD Denis Naughten has labelled any attempt to claw back money from the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) as “immoral”.
As previously reported by the Irish Farmers Journal, up to 19,300 farmers are on track to miss the scheme’s June deadline for nitrates reductions and risk losing €40m in payments.
Under the measure, farmers must reduce their nitrogen usage, in other words cow numbers, by 5% over a certain period.
You would nearly need to be a quantum physicist to work out these figures
Naughten pointed out that national suckler herd numbers are already declining and that COVID-19 has had an impact on farm trade.
Herd reduction
“Firstly, the national suckler herd had fallen by 64,600 head in the two years up to June 2020 and by the end of June 2021 this is likely to be close to a 10% reduction nationally,” said the Roscommon/Galway TD.
“Secondly, COVID-19 has had a big impact on farmers seeking assistance from other farmers or advisors in interpreting the nitrates calculation as a result of these restrictions. In fact, you would nearly need to be a quantum physicist to work out these figures independently or alternatively make a good guess based on data provided by the Department which has a four to six-week time lag.
“Thirdly, these restrictions, as well as the ongoing volatility of the market due to Brexit, have had a considerable impact on the movement of livestock particularly through marts, despite the argument by the Minister based on headline figures.”
Naughten added it is unacceptable that farmers could be forced to pay back money for not meeting the target and said he would be bringing the matter up with Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.
“It is now time, in light of the third more serious lockdown and due to the fact that cow numbers will have fallen well in excess of the required 5%, that we have clarity on a waiver and the Minister for Agriculture categorically rules out any clawback of funding from hard pressed beef farmers,” concluded Naughten.
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