Suckler changes nod from Minister

WITH the scent of an election coming into the air, the IFA will be seeking to get more modifications to the new suckler scheme, in addition to the ones announced last week.

Changes in the Beef Data and Genomics Scheme (BDGS) confirmed to the IFA last week by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney have been welcomed as steps in the right direction by farm leaders.

But there is still growing concern that many smaller farmers in the West of Ireland will opt to stay out of the scheme because of what are described as its draconian conditions.

Galway IFA Livestock Committee Chairman Michael Flynn told the Farming Tribune that concessions secured last week by the IFA were ‘a step in the right direction’ but that more common sense modifications needed to be made.

“All along, we’ve made it perfectly clear to the Minister that some aspects of this scheme clearly need to be change or quite simply it will not work. We’re hopeful that with an election more changes can be made,” said Michael Flynn.

According to IFA National Livestock Committee Chairman, Henry Burns, the following changes to the original scheme were agreed last week by Minister Coveney.

Regarding the six year obligation, if a farmer applicant sells or leases land, or transfers by inheritance or gift and as a result leaves the scheme, there will be no clawback of funds.

In relation to the replacement requirement for 4 and 5 star animals born after 2013 to be at a level of 20% by 2018 and 50% by 2018, the Dept. will now allow all 4 and 5 star animals currently in the herd, to be included.

The Minister has also confirmed that for new entrants, 2015 may be used instead of the 2014 reference year. If force majeure (unusual adverse circumstances) applies to 2014 stocking rates, a flexible ‘case by case’ approach will be applied by the Dept.

Michael Flynn said that while these concessions were welcome, there were now a few other key areas where the Minister could make common sense changes to the scheme to the benefit of everyone.

“We want to see 3 star animals to be eligible as well as the 4 and 5 star ones – many 3 star animals are of a very high standard.

“The 60% genotyping requirement in the scheme is set way too high while the cost of €30 per animal for genotyping testing needs to be halved.

“A few very sensible and easy to implement further modifications to the scheme would make a huge difference to its uptake.

“Maybe with an election on the way, it might help to focus the Minister’s attention on these issues,” said Michael Flynn.