The new €50/cow beef welfare scheme has been launched this week with mixed reaction from suckler farmers.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS), which will pay suckler farmers €50/cow, opens this week.
The scheme will pay farmers €35/cow up to a maximum of 40 cows to meal feed calves and €15/head to test up to 20 animals for IBR.
However, Irish Farmers Journal analysis shows that farmers are likely to pay out €12/head in IBR testing costs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said: “Coupled with the SCEP, the NBWS will be an important income support for suckler farmers. Since my time in opposition, I promised €200/head supports for suckler farmers and I am now delivering on this commitment.”
The IFA has accused the minister of designing the scheme to benefit service providers rather than farmers.
IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden said: “Most of the payment will leak to vets, laboratories and others. The inclusion of IBR testing is a huge error of judgment by the minister.
“He must go back to the drawing board with his officials to identify practical measures that add value to our farms,” Golden insisted.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
The new National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS), which will pay suckler farmers €50/cow, opens this week.
The scheme will pay farmers €35/cow up to a maximum of 40 cows to meal feed calves and €15/head to test up to 20 animals for IBR.
However, Irish Farmers Journal analysis shows that farmers are likely to pay out €12/head in IBR testing costs.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said: “Coupled with the SCEP, the NBWS will be an important income support for suckler farmers. Since my time in opposition, I promised €200/head supports for suckler farmers and I am now delivering on this commitment.”
The IFA has accused the minister of designing the scheme to benefit service providers rather than farmers.
IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden said: “Most of the payment will leak to vets, laboratories and others. The inclusion of IBR testing is a huge error of judgment by the minister.
“He must go back to the drawing board with his officials to identify practical measures that add value to our farms,” Golden insisted.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS