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More than one in 10 farmers have dropped out or been rejected from farm schemes since 2015. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) saw the biggest dropout rate, with 7,781 (32%) farmers exiting the scheme.
Farmers have repeatedly complained about the €uro-Star system that is part of the BDGP, with more farmers facing scheme penalties this December for failing to meet stock bull requirements.
The next highest dropout rates were in the Knowledge Transfer (KT) programme and Sheep Welfare Scheme, with 1,498 and 1,507 or 8% offarmers exiting each scheme respectively.
Some 3,415 (7%) of farmers have dropped out of GLAS and 656 (4%) withdrew from TAMS. Just one farmer has left the Hen Harrier Programme.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed revealed the figures in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil spokesperson Charlie McConalogue.
In total, 14,858 farmers have withdrawn or been rejected from schemes to date.
The figures also revealed an underspend in a number of schemes. Some €84.3m was not spent in GLAS between 2015 and 2018.
There has also been a €3.4m underspend in the Sheep Welfare Scheme.
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