Councillor Maguire welcome good news for Suckler Farmers in North West

Friday 8th February 2019

I welcome the opening of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) to applications from suckler farmers in Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and North Roscommon.

The pilot opened to applications on Monday 4th February and the closing date is the 22nd February.

I am encouraging all sucker farmers to apply to the scheme to secure the €40 available per calf weighed.

The pilot is a one-year voluntary programme, where farmers are required to weigh the cow and unweaned calf once, between the 8th March and 1st November 2019.

Farmers can use their own weighing scales, borrow one from another farmer or rent one out for the day.

Payments will be made in December 2019 and are fully funded by the National Exchequer.

This follows on from the announcement in Budget 2019 of support for the suckler sector and my motion passed at Sligo County Council in October seeking the introduction of a suckler cow scheme.

The objective of BEEP is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd though improvement in the quantity and quality of performance data that is collected, while supporting decision making on farm.

Further details of the pilot scheme and the terms and conditions are available on the Department of Agriculture website www.agriculture.gov.ie/beep/

ENDS