Calls for €100/head beef carbon efficiency payment

In addition to supports of €300/suckler cow, the ICSA has called for a €100/head beef carbon efficiency payment.

The farm group has outlined conditions for payment, worth up to €100/hd for feeding animals between 12-24 months, in its CSP submission.

Payment, the group outlines, requires weighing once, dung sampling and one-day training. It proposes that animals can be suckler or dairy-born but not female dairy breeds.

“Animals must be held by participating the farmer for in excess of 100 days. Weighing must be completed not less than 100 days before slaughter. This element will attract a payment of €40/head.”

€100/head beef carbon efficiency payment

It highlighted that final payment is voluntary for the early finishing of animals according to the following schedule.

Firstly, if a farmer sells an animal directly to the factory, the payment is automatic.

If a participating farmer sells the animal(s) in a mart, they will still receive the payment provided the animal is slaughtered within 30 days.

If the animal is slaughtered after 30 days, it will not be eligible for payment – either for the vendor or the purchaser.

“The focus on weighing, dung sampling and earlier, more efficient finishing is fully in keeping with the Ag Climatise strategy and emissions targets.”

“This would be funded within Pillar 2 as a carbon measure, in keeping with the EU objectives, and the funds would be sourced by transferring €80 million from Pillar 1.”

Cost: 6.7% deduction from everybody’s per hectare payment (e.g., €17/ha from payment which would otherwise be €250/ha) (To be transferred from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2).

Bord Bia

Besides, the farm group has stated that it is opposed to Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme membership being liked to CAP payment

ICSA believes that if every farmer is a member of a quality assurance scheme, then no farmer would achieve a bonus.