The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have joined the call of urging farmers to join the new BEEP-S scheme before the upcoming closing date.
Applications for the scheme will not be accepted after the 15th of May.
“The INHFA played a central role in highlighting the need for a more targeted direct support for smaller suckler farms” stated Colm O’Donnell, INHFA president.
He has labelled this scheme as being “the most simple and straightforward intervention” from the Department to date.
Promote BEEP-S
Teagasc and the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) have been contacted by the INHFA to provide assistance to farmers with the online application process. Both institutions have been asked to promote the uptake among suckler farmers who previously haven’t participated in any other schemes.
“With €35 million made available for 2020, it would be important that sufficient numbers of farmers apply to ensure full uptake of the funding for this year as the Beef Data and Genomics programme (BDGP) is due to finish in 2020.”
“Further merging and development of a support structure for sucklers might finally become a reality,” he stated.
The INHFA president concluded by saying: “It is a red line issue for the INHFA that any unused funding in the Rural Development Programme (RDP) already pledged to suckler cows, like for example the unused BEAM money must be channelled directly to support primary suckler cow farmers.”
“This new BEEP 2 (S) is the only acceptable avenue to do this in these unprecedented times.” the farm leaders concluded.
