McConalogue is asked to reopen programme by hill farmers’ group

THE Sligo-based president of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, Colm O’Donnell, has called on the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to re-open the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP 3-S) immediately. The call came after the INHFA met with the Minister and his officials on Wednesday last. The INHFA president, pictured, said: “During our bilateral meeting with the Minister and his officials we insisted that the scheme be opened without further delay. The urgency in doing so is to provide certainty to suckler farmers, that the funding secured by his Department in the budget for 2021 allows them to participate this year.

“At this point suckler cows with calves born since July 1, 2020, are ready for weaning and pairings of cows and calves need to be weighed and meal fed pre-weaning. This is necessary to comply with the actions within the scheme.” Mr O’Donnell said that this his advice to participating suckler farmers is to weigh cow and calf pairings, register the results with The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) in a similar way to last year, introduce meal feeding pre-weaning and have receipts for the meal and wean the calves. “BEEP 2-S has been very well received by suckler farmers. Introducing those types of measures are great examples of how the newly established Beef Task Force agreement is working, and delivering on commitments entered into, for beef farmers.

“This approach is making sure that meaningful discussion on scheme design between farmers, stakeholders, and the DAFM takes place in advance of any scheme roll-out. We can see the current compliance problems with the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) which didn’t have the backing of the farm lobby,” he said.