There were 27,677 applications submitted to the Beef Finisher Payment scheme, as of Wednesday afternoon.

It is likely that this number will have increased before the deadline of midnight on Wednesday 9 September, with a flurry of applications common in the final hours before a scheme closes.

The figure is a long way short of the 42,000 plus farmers that are eligible to apply.

It is likely, however, that a large cohort of farmers who are eligible to receive a significant payment are likely to have applied, meaning that a higher percentage of the €50m funding than the application rate may suggest will have been utilised.

Deadline dates

It is worth highlighting that a number of other deadline dates are due in the coming weeks.

The final date for the application of chemical nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser is 14 September, with the prohibited application period beginning on 15 September. Application of potassium fertiliser does not fall under this deadline.

Time is also running out for grass measuring

The requirement for farmers availing of the Nitrates Derogation to feed concentrates with a maximum crude protein content of 16% ends on 15 September, with a higher protein content permissable until 1 April 2021.

Time is also running out for grass measuring and farmers must ensure they have at least 20 grass measurements recorded on the Teagasc Pasturebase programme or equivalent farm management programme.