Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for attending to take my matter on the beef data and genomics programmes. Farmers are receiving the forms to fill in and there is huge discontent in suckler areas. When one looks at the terms and conditions, it is clear that one has to sign up to a six-year contract. If something goes wrong within five years, one will be in trouble and have to pay back the money.

I note the 60% issue in regard to genotyping. It is costing €30 to do each one. Most farmers in the scheme will have to have a planner to deal with carbon and the grazing season, which is causing problems. One big thing that is emerging from both the breeders of bulls and the farmers themselves involves the four and five star ratings. In reality, a one or two star bull may produce as good an animal and better than a four or five star one. An animal that may have five stars after three years could be brought down to two stars by a heifer or other progeny produced out of it down the road. We have seen this in looking at the bulls that have been produced in Ireland down through the years.

There is huge concern and it is not scare-mongering. Many farmers, especially the smaller ones, are throwing the forms in the fire they are so afraid to go into the scheme. It needs to be addressed. The farming organisations are holding meetings over the next week so extensive is concern on the ground. I have had a lot of farmers into my constituency office and they have said they are walking away from the scheme. The other issue is that if one increases or decreases from the 2014 figures, one does not comply with the terms of the scheme. I ask the Minister to look at and change the terms and conditions.

I know that the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, has worked with the Minister on this scheme but there is a huge difference between what I am hearing on the ground and what is being pushed. At the moment a person can bring a bull from England, but it could take two years before the person has a five star bull. Farmers have been doing it for years and there is a course available as well. These farmers have been involved in suckler farming for years and we need to keep them up and running.

This funding is like an apple which is high up in the tree. Everyone welcomes the funding which the Minister is making available and no one is taking from that fact. However, I am expressing the genuine discontent on the ground and the genuine fear farmers have of going into the scheme. It must be rejigged and we need to work with farmers and bull breeders to get it right. I have seen the stark consequence, which is widespread, especially in the west where many suckler farmers are based. Farmers are not going into the scheme.

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