The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) has been reopened for applications by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed until 5pm Friday 20 September.

Staff from the Department of Agriculture will be available to assist farmers in making their BEAM application at the Department’s tent at the National Ploughing Championships.

Announcing the reopening of the scheme, Minister Creed encouraged all those eligible to avail of the final opportunity to apply.

The scheme first opened on 19 August and closed on Sunday after its original closing date of 8 September was extended.

Assistance

The Minister said: “I am happy to facilitate potential applicants at my Department’s tent at the National Ploughing Championships where I will have a dedicated team on site each day to answer any queries potential applicants may have and assist them submit their applications.”

The Department offices in Portlaoise, Co Laois, will also have a team available to meet with farmers every day from now until the BEAM closing date.

As of Wednesday last week, some 28,600 farmers had applied for the scheme, with up to €70m of the funding committed.

Apply

IFA livestock chair Angus Woods encouraged all eligible farmers to apply: “Any farmer attending the Ploughing Championships this week who has not already applied should visit the Department stand, assess the amount of money they can draw down, and make an application.”

Woods said the Minister had agreed to look at increasing the payment rates for suckler cows under the scheme.

"Considering the income crisis in beef, it would be a crime to allow any of this hard-won funding go back to Brussels or the exchequer," Woods said.

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