IFA animal health chair David Hall has called on the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to honour his commitment to farmers to address the arbitrary and unfair ceilings of €3,000 and €5,000 in the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme.
David Hall said the minister kicked for touch this issue when IFA raised it with him for the first time early last year, claiming the need to secure additional funding for the TB Programme and to have a TB Action Plan agreed.
“Both of these issues were delivered on by October last year with the support of farmers, yet the minister has still not honoured his commitment to address the outdated and unfair ceilings in the live valuation scheme,” he said.
The TB eradication budget for 2026 was increased to €157m, providing €25m additional funding over and above the cost of the programme in 2025.
The IFA animal health chair added that all farmers want is fairness in how we are treated in the TB programme from Minister Heydon and his officials, by respecting the fact farmers contribute €150m to the programme each year and ensuring the compensation schemes fulfil their function.
“The Live Valuation Scheme must reflect the open market value of an animal as agreed in early 2000 between Government and farm organisations, not a figure determined by arbitrary ceilings.” David Hall said. He added that removing the unfair ceilings is a critical first step in generating farmers’ support and goodwill in implementing some very difficult measures for individual farmers in the TB Action Plan.
“Minister Heydon has no hiding place on this issue, the money is available within the current budget based on savings to-date this year, and with TB reactor numbers thankfully falling, what is needed now is the political will to resolve the issue.”
“Farmers have played their part. It is up to Minister Heydon and his officials now to play theirs,” David Hall concluded.
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