A farmer, who appealed a decision by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, in relation to the eligibility for payment in respect of the BDGP, has been successful.
They submitted a Beef Data and Genomics Programme application and was accepted into the scheme.
The farmer wrote to the Department seeking to terminate their contract under force majeure because of a medical condition, according to the Agricultural Appeals Office 2019 annual report.
The Department agreed to this request removing the appellants from the BDGP scheme without penalty.
The Department decision was that the farmer was not eligible for payment for the 2017 BDGP because the first round of payments was not issued to applicants until the middle of December 2017, the report outlined.
Complied with all requirements
The farmer appealed the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office on the grounds that they should be paid for 2017 because they had complied with all requirements in 2017 before the contract was terminated.
The farmer had completed surveys, genomic testing, carbon navigator and training as required.
The terms and conditions of the BDGP state that, in order to receive full payment, the applicant must successfully complete all of the Programme requirements.
The appeals officer found that the farmer had complied with all requirements of the terms and conditions Beef Data Genomics Programme for 2017 so, therefore, was entitled to their full BDGP payments for 2017.
