Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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369. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to simplify the rigid regulation in the beef data and genomics programme to make it more attractive and viable for small landowners to participate in; if he will provide increased targeted supports to the suckler cow herd in budget 2016, in order to support farming, and wider economic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34237/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme, or BDGP, was launched on 5th May last 2015. It is part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. There is funding of €300 million available within the scheme and it builds on my Department’s previous Beef Data Programme and Beef Genomics schemes. The BDGP aims to (i) address widely acknowledged weaknesses in the maternal genetics of the Irish suckler herd, (ii) reduce the Greenhouse Gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production and (iii) make a positive contribution to the future viability of suckler farmers and the national suckler herd.

To achieve these objectives my Department has drawn up six requirements that farmers must meet in order to draw down payment from the scheme. Participants will be required to complete surveys and submit information related to criteria such as milking ability, docility, size and animal vigour. Farmers will be very familiar with these surveys which were previously part of the Beef Data Programme operated in recent years.

Participants will also be required to genotype animals on their farms which have been selected by the ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation). The number of animals to be genotyped each year will be equal to 60% of the number of calved suckler cows that the applicant had on his/her holding in 2014 – these are known as the farmer’s reference animals. It should be noted that the cost of the genotyping tag has been significantly reduced from the pilot 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme and now stands at €22 – a drop of over 26%.

Farmers will also then be required to undertake a replacement strategy to ensure that a certain percentage of the animals on their herd at particular deadlines are of 4 or 5 star rating on the Euro Star ratings system. It should be noted that most farmers are already well on the way to meeting the requirement for replacement animals on their herds, with significant numbers of 4 and 5 star animals already in scheme participant’s herds.

Participants in the programme will receive a payment of €142.50 for each of the first eligible 6.66 hectares and €120 for each of the remaining hectares up to the maximum payable area. The maximum payable area is based on the number of calved suckler cows in each herd in 2014. The payment rates provide for a higher payment linked to the first 10 animals on each herd as I felt it was important to favour smaller herds through this programme. The payment rate of €142.50 is the maximum amount which could be provided based on the cost incurred and income foregone associated with the actions under the BDGP, as negotiated with the European Commission, and it would not be possible to arbitrarily increase the payment.

I have asked officials from my Department in conjunction with the ICBF and Teagasc to hold information meetings for scheme participants. These meetings will enable farmers within the scheme to have one to one time with Department, ICBF and Teagasc staff in order to query any aspect of the scheme and look at their own personal circumstances with regards to the requirements they will have to fulfil to ensure full compliance, and therefore full payment, with the scheme. Scheme participants will be contacted directly to inform them of upcoming meetings.

I have committed to a mid-term review of the operation of the programme, which will include input from all of the stakeholders, including farm organisations. For now, I would like to assure participants in the scheme of continued support over its lifetime from my Department, Teagasc and ICBF.