Department makes more cuts to farmer payments

There are mounting fears of a clampdown on farm spending by the Government following payment cuts to three national exchequer-funded schemes.

The maximum payment under the Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme was slashed this week by almost 40%, falling from €1,000 to €620 per applicant.

This followed confirmation by the Department of Agriculture that more than 305,000 calves were weighed for the scheme, although there was only funding available for 200,000.

The maximum number of calves that could be applied on was cut from 50 to 31.

The cuts to the Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme follow similar reductions to the maximum payments under the National Beef Welfare Scheme and National Sheep Welfare Scheme.

Farm organisations have demanded Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon honour the payment commitments made when the schemes were launched.

ICSA leader Seán McNamara described the cuts to the weighing scheme as “unacceptable” and said farmers should not be penalised “because the Department miscalculated demand”.

ICMSA livestock chair Michael O’Connell said the Minister needed to “future-proof all livestock schemes” and ensure adequate funding is available.

There is also concern about the Department’s failure to launch an €11m forestry reconstitution scheme for plantations devastated by storms.

IFA forestry chair Padraig Stapleton said plantation owners were increasingly frustrated by the delays.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that an €11m scheme is awaiting approval by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.