This week, the The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) launched a new calculator for HerdPlus members. The online tool allows farmers to calculate and project stock numbers from now until the end of the

Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) on 30 June 2021.

Once logged in on the ICBF website, the BEAM calculator can be found under the applications tab along the top of the screen.

For the calculator to be able to work out the required reduction in numbers, farmers must first enter the nitrates value from the reference period on which the scheme operates (1 July 2018-30 June 2019). This can be found on the online BEAM application submitted to the Department of Agriculture.

Initially, the calculator assumes no change in stock numbers from now until the end of June 2021. Farmers must fill in stock numbers for each month accordingly. The box at the top right of the screen will remain red if the predicted reduction in organic nitrogen remains below the 5% threshold. Once the reduction is over 5% the box will go green to indicate that stock numbers are sufficient to meet the reduction required.

Monthly inputs

With some confusion over the required reduction needed on farms, this calculator will be a huge help to farmers. One note of caution is to fill in the stock numbers for each month as is on farm on the first day of each month.

While the calculator operates on a monthly basis for simplicity, the actual nitrates are calculated on a per day basis. Therefore there might be some discrepancy between the nitrates figure when calculated on a daily and monthly basis.

For example, if you plan to sell 20 cattle at some time in March, include them in the March stock figures for the purposes of the calculator.