A voluntary suckler herd reduction scheme, a cut in the average age of slaughter and lower nitrogen usage are among the key actions included in the interim report of the Food Vision beef and sheep group for the suckler sector.

The document, which has been seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, includes 17 measures which aim to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the beef sector.

The interim report has been circulated to all stakeholders, with final submissions on its recommendations due this week.

The voluntary reduction proposal is the measure likely to attract the most debate and opposition from farm organisations.

The report recommends that “the potential for farmers to voluntarily exit from breeding livestock or to reduce their numbers of breeding ruminants for a minimum number of years” should be assessed.

“An incentivised voluntary exit/reduction scheme that operates over a contract period should be examined. It should be open to farmers under such a scheme to reduce completely or partially their breeding ruminant numbers in return for an appropriate incentive,” it states.

However, it cautions that positive results are achievable “only if the scheme is structured in a way which prevents the reduced number of breeding ruminants being replaced directly on the same holding with [other] breeding ruminants.

This effectively precludes farmers who take up the scheme moving from suckling into enterprises such as dairying or contract rearing.

Although the details of the proposed herd reduction scheme have yet to be outlined, it has been suggested that farmers will have to exit production for around five years.

Among the other measures recommended in the interim report are:

  • A reduction in the average age of slaughter.
  • Cut the age of first calving, with a view to getting as close as possible to 24 months.
  • Replace CAN fertiliser usage with protected urea. The rate of replacement sought has not been specified, but is likely to be in excess of 60%.
  • Reduce chemical nitrogen usage. Again, no percentage reduction is specified, but the report says this must be in line with the overall targets set out in the climate action plan, which seeks to limit nitrogen usage to 325,000t by 2030 and to 350,000t by 2025.
  • Increase organic production.
  • Explore the cap and trade methane-focused emissions model.
  • Establish robust methodologies for measuring carbon production at individual farm level. Interestingly, there is no mention of measuring carbon sequestration at farm level.
  • Ensure increased soil testing at farm level.
  • Drive adoption of clover and multispecies swards.
  • Increase adoption of low-emission slurry spreading. However, the rate of adoption being sought among drystock farmers is not specified.

    • Reservations

    Serious reservations have been expressed by farm representatives regarding a number of the proposed measures included in the interim report.

    In relation to the herd reduction scheme proposal, many farmers fear it will become a ‘carbon trading scheme’ which will facilitate the expansion of dairy enterprises at the expense of the suckler sector.

    However, there is also an acceptance that a combination of CAP changes and low margins could persuade many suckler farmers to join a reduction scheme if the compensation package on offer is sufficiently attractive.

    With regard to the reductions being sought in nitrogen usage, a number of beef sector representatives maintained that these measures should be targeted primarily at derogation farmers and those exporting slurry.

    Fears have also been expressed that the move to reduce the age of slaughter to under 24 months will result in a glut of cattle in the spring, and a consequent collapse in prices, due to Ireland’s traditional spring-calving pattern.

    Beef farmers have also questioned the wisdom of reducing the age of first calving. They argue that it is not a feasible option for some beef breeds.