Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, has announced that, following extensive consultation with cross sectoral stakeholders, the decision has been taken to move forward with the introduction of mandatory electronic identification in the cattle herd.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. today announced that the review of TAMS reference costs has been finalised and the changes proposed have been implemented from the opening of Tranche 23 on 24 July 2021. This review was based on a detailed analysis of the costs of completed works up to end-March 2021.

Minister announces changes to TB rules to allow restricted farmers to move cattle into their herds more easily - Minister welcomes important step

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D, today reminded BEAM participants that the option to choose the alternative BEAM reduction period of 1st January 2021 to the 31st December 2021 closes on Monday 21st June 2021.

The current reduction period is 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021. However, as a result of COVID-19 and the impact it could have on some farmers meeting their 5% bovine Nitrates reduction requirement, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine wrote to the European Commission in January 2021 seeking an extension of the reduction period.

What the Sheep Welfare Scheme is

The Sheep Welfare Scheme provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock. Farmers get €10 per breeding ewe for completing flock welfare measures.

Annual sheep and goat census forms have issued to over 47,000 sheep and goat keepers registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The Department selected Friday 31st December as the 2020 census date. Keepers are required to record the census data on their flock registers. Keepers should be aware that completion and return of the census is a legal obligation.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine today announced the introduction of regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requiring flock keepers to apply particular bio-security measures for poultry and other captive birds as a precautionary measure against Avian Influenza, as well as a ban on the assembly of birds. These Regulations provide for precautionary measures against avian influenza (bird flu).

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced that the 2020 advance payments under the Green Low-Carbon Agri Environment Scheme (GLAS) will commence this week which is two weeks ahead of schedule. €138 million will arrive in almost 40,000 GLAS farmers’ bank accounts this week.

The Minister stated “I was delighted to secure funding for a number of new supports for farmers in this year’s budget.  As my Department rolls out these exciting new  initiatives such as the Programme of Farmer Training on Health and Safety, Agri-Environment Measures such as Biodiversity training for farmers and on-farm Biodiversity studies,  the  National Soil Sampling Programme, a new results-based Pilot project and new supports for the tillage sector, I  expect that the provision of high quality professional advice will have a key role to play. Similarly, as we prepare for the introduction of a new Common Agricultural Policy to help the sector respond to environmental and economic and social challenges, providing agricultural consultants with the most up to date information available will be a central element of our approach.”

The Minister confirmed that his Department will shortly be consulting with the relevant stakeholders regarding of the design and delivery of the training.

Minister McConalogue Announces Advance Payments of €781 million under the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced the commencement of advance payments under the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) (including Greening).

The Minister said, “I am happy to confirm that that advance payments under the BPS, worth €781 million to 118,000 farmers, have commenced today. These payments are a vital support for farmers across the country and contribute greatly to maximising income and cashflow in the sector in what has been a very challenging year for farmers.”

The Minister continued, “A key priority for my Department is the efficient issuing of scheme payments to farmers.  The BPS advance payment is commencing today at the earliest date possible under EU Regulations.  The payment is set at a rate of 70%, which is an increase on the 50% normally allowed under regulation.”

The Minister also commented that “compared to the advance payments made at this stage last year, an additional 3,500 farmers have received an advance payment in the first run of payments this year.  This represents an additional €34 million.  In all, some 97 % of eligible applicants for the 2020 BPS are receiving their advance payment at the earliest date possible.”

Payments under the 2020 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) which started in September are also continuing as more cases are cleared for payment.  The Minister added that “the advance BPS payment and the advance ANC payments taken together mean that some €974 million has now issued to Irish farmers in the last month.”

In order to facilitate farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their BPS or ANC payments, extended hours are in place for the Direct Payments Helpline.  From Monday the 19^th of October to Friday the 23^rd of October, the Helpdesk will be available to answer farmers queries up to 8.30pm each evening. Farmers can ring the Helpdesk at 076 106 4420.  Farmers can also submit any queries they may have online via www.agfood.ie.

 In conclusion the Minister stated “given the central importance of the many schemes currently in place, my Department has recently written to all farmers outlining the payment schedule over the coming months for these schemes. I am committed to ensuring that these payments continue to issue in the most efficient way possible to ensure that these vital supports are delivered to farmers in a timely manner.

With this in mind, regular pay runs will be in place over the coming weeks to pay BPS and ANC cases as they become cleared for payment.  Farmers who have been contacted by my Department with queries in relation to their applications should also respond at their earliest convenience in order to facilitate payment.” 

The Minister stated “I was delighted to secure funding for a number of new supports for farmers in this year’s budget.  As my Department rolls out these exciting new  initiatives such as the Programme of Farmer Training on Health and Safety, Agri-Environment Measures such as Biodiversity training for farmers and on-farm Biodiversity studies,  the  National Soil Sampling Programme, a new results-based Pilot project and new supports for the tillage sector, I  expect that the provision of high quality professional advice will have a key role to play. Similarly, as we prepare for the introduction of a new Common Agricultural Policy to help the sector respond to environmental and economic and social challenges, providing agricultural consultants with the most up to date information available will be a central element of our approach.”

The Minister confirmed that his Department will shortly be consulting with the relevant stakeholders regarding of the design and delivery of the training.

Minister McConalogue Announces Advance Payments of €781 million under the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced the commencement of advance payments under the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) (including Greening).

The Minister said, “I am happy to confirm that that advance payments under the BPS, worth €781 million to 118,000 farmers, have commenced today. These payments are a vital support for farmers across the country and contribute greatly to maximising income and cashflow in the sector in what has been a very challenging year for farmers.”

The Minister continued, “A key priority for my Department is the efficient issuing of scheme payments to farmers.  The BPS advance payment is commencing today at the earliest date possible under EU Regulations.  The payment is set at a rate of 70%, which is an increase on the 50% normally allowed under regulation.”

The Minister also commented that “compared to the advance payments made at this stage last year, an additional 3,500 farmers have received an advance payment in the first run of payments this year.  This represents an additional €34 million.  In all, some 97 % of eligible applicants for the 2020 BPS are receiving their advance payment at the earliest date possible.”

Payments under the 2020 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) which started in September are also continuing as more cases are cleared for payment.  The Minister added that “the advance BPS payment and the advance ANC payments taken together mean that some €974 million has now issued to Irish farmers in the last month.”

In order to facilitate farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their BPS or ANC payments, extended hours are in place for the Direct Payments Helpline.  From Monday the 19^th of October to Friday the 23^rd of October, the Helpdesk will be available to answer farmers queries up to 8.30pm each evening. Farmers can ring the Helpdesk at 076 106 4420.  Farmers can also submit any queries they may have online via www.agfood.ie.

 In conclusion the Minister stated “given the central importance of the many schemes currently in place, my Department has recently written to all farmers outlining the payment schedule over the coming months for these schemes. I am committed to ensuring that these payments continue to issue in the most efficient way possible to ensure that these vital supports are delivered to farmers in a timely manner.

With this in mind, regular pay runs will be in place over the coming weeks to pay BPS and ANC cases as they become cleared for payment.  Farmers who have been contacted by my Department with queries in relation to their applications should also respond at their earliest convenience in order to facilitate payment.” 

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has written to all Young Farmer Scheme applicants with some helpful advice on how to meet the scheme terms and conditions and avoid inspection penalties. All applicants will receive the letter via their AgFood account. A webinar is organised to coincide with this letter for Tuesday 13^th October.

The Young Farmers Scheme (YFS) was introduced in 2015 as a top-up to the Basic Payment Scheme.  It is accepted that the creation and development of a new farm business is financially challenging and this payment is intended as an income support to young farmers starting  their agricultural activities to facilitate the initial establishment of the farm business.

A young farmer is eligible to apply if he/she is no more than 40 years of age in the first year of application, has attained a minimum level of agricultural education and is in financial and managerial control of the holding. The Young Farmer Scheme can be paid for a maximum of five years. The detailed eligibility requirements are set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme which are available at the following link:  www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingschemesandpayments/capentitlementsrelatedapplicationforms/2020nryf/2020NRandYFSTermsandConditions.pdf

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., today announced that payments worth €185 million million under the 2020 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme have commenced issuing this week to 86,000 farmers

ASF which is a deadly disease of pigs and wild boar was confirmed yesterday (10/09/2020) in the eastern area of Spree-Neisse within a few kilometres of the Polish border. ASF virus, which is highly fatal for pigs and wild boar, does not affect humans and poses no food safety risk. Reports to date indicate that the infection involves a single wild boar which was found dead and there have been no reports of the disease in domestic pigs in Germany. The Department has confirmed that there has been no importation of live pigs from Germany into Ireland this year to date.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dara Calleary T.D., today announced the opening of the Beef Finisher Payment (BFP). The scheme is a one off, exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the Covid19 State Aid Temporary Framework with funding totalling €50M. The objective of BFP is to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dara Calleary T.D., today announced details of the Beef Finishers Payment (BFP), an Exchequer funded scheme of €50 million to provide income support for up to 42,000 farmers with beef finishing enterprises, who have been impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister Calleary stated “I am fully aware of the difficulties caused by Covid-19 in the Irish beef sector and the consequences for those in beef farming and for the rural economy as a whole. Farmers with finished animals suffered from both reduced prices and other restrictions in getting animals to market. The closure of the food service market in Ireland, the UK and beyond has had a dramatic impact on the industry and in particular those who supply it to make their living.”

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is currently processing applications for the 2020 Basic Payment Schemes.  As in previous years, this can entail queries being sent to farmers in order to complete their applications for payment.   The Department would like to remind farmers to respond promptly to any notifications they receive regarding their application. A prompt response helps the Department to progress these issues in advance of the October 16^th payment date.

In previous years, all such query notifications issued by post.  However, in 2020 a certain number of query notifications will only be issued via email to a farmer’s approved agricultural advisor or by text message to farmers who have signed up to the Department’s SMS service. Those not signed up or who have not authorised an advisor will continue to receive postal notifications. This change will help to ensure BPS applications can be processed in an efficient manner as the Department continues to respond to Covid-19 related restrictions.

Should a farmer receive such a notification, full details can be accessed on the agfood.ie system used for applying for BPS.  Farmers who wish to contact the Department in relation to a notification can do so by ringing the Direct Payments Helpline at 076 106 4420 where a member of staff can advise on the matter.  Where a query is not responded to, any follow up query will issue by post.