Over 700 farmers pull out of BDGP

CLOSE on 10 farmers a day are withdrawing from the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP), according to a reply to a parliamentary question submitted by Roscommon TD Denis Naughten.

Minister Simon Coveney in his Dáil reply confirmed to Deputy Naughten that 724 applicants accepted into the scheme, had subsequently withdrawn from the programme.

The Minister said that up to the closing date for the scheme on June 5, 2015, 29,531 valid applications had been received – the 724 applicants who had since withdrawn represented less than 3% of all valid applications.

However according to Deputy Naughten, there were many farmers who had expressed serious concerns to him regarding the conditions of the BDGP with some now deciding to exit from it.

“Clearly the Department’s reassurances have not alleviated some farmer concerns around the scheme. This is not good for its success which is vital to the survival of suckler farmers,” stated Deputy Naughten.

He added that while the Minister’s commitment to the suckler sector was very welcome, it was now clear from the latest ‘withdrawal figures’ that further clarifications and changes were needed.

“The fact is that without a workable suckler support scheme the viability of many family farms will be seriously undermined.

“Many farmers entered this scheme reluctantly and are waiting to see how it is rolled out before making a final decision on whether to stay in or to exit.

“It is in everybody’s interest that this is a success and I hope that Minister Coveney will review how the conditions of the scheme are implemented by his Department,” said Deputy Naughten.

Minister Coveney said that the BDGP would involve a budget of €300 million over a six year period and represented a major vote of confidence in the beef sectorfrom

“The BDGP builds upon the large investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in recent years, and will ultimately bring about fundamental and strategic improvements to the entire sector by substantially improving the overall genetic quality of the Irish beef herd,” said Minister Coveney.