Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The vast majority of farmers applying for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) will have significantly more land than is required in order to receive full payment. It iss important to note that the requirement to retain 80% of land refers to 80% of the reference hectares submitted under the scheme and not 80% of his overall holding. As an example, a farmer with 10 calved cows and a stocking density of 0.5 , will have access to 20 hectares but will only require 6.66 hectares for the purposes of payment under the BDGP. This herdowner would then have to ensure that he submitted each year, on his SPS form, eligible forage hectares to cover at least 80% of 6.66 hectares (5.33) to ensure that he was compliant with the land requirement of the BDGP and remained within the scheme. Even if this farmer had a stocking density of 1 calved cow per hectare, he would have 50% more land than he requires.

Based on participants in the 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme, nearly half of farmers (46%) will have a stocking density of less than 0.5 calved cows/hectare whereas 90% of farmers have a stocking density below 1 calved cow per hectare. The vast majority of farmers come under a stocking density of 1 calved cow per hectare and I believe the relatively high stocking density of 1.5 established under the BDGP should provide a sufficient buffer for situations arising on most farms.

The Department has procedures in place with regards to appeals and force majeure for the BDGP and each farmer that may fall into difficulty in renting the required hectarage can rest assured that their situation will be examined on a case by case basis.