Over €280,000 has been earmarked for farmers in Carlow and Kilkenny, as payments commence for the CAP Strategic Plan Dairy Beef welfare scheme.
In Carlow, 65 farmers will receive a combined total of €43,623.60, while in Kilkenny €244,970.40 will be distributed amongst 375 farmers.
Nationally, over €4.73 million will be issued to some 7,612 participating farmers.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, announced that farmers who have signed up for the scheme can expect payments into their bank accounts in the coming days.
The four-year scheme aims to support farmers in improving the health of the national herd, by using genetic merit beef sires.
Payments issued today will be for calves born between the 1st of January 2024 and the 31st of December 2024, and will see €20 paid per calf to farmers, with a maximum of 50 calves per applicant herd.
Those who wish to apply for the scheme are advised that applications will reopen in April of this year, and that farmers who have already signed up for the scheme need not reapply, as their participation will automatically continue.
Farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme payments can ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057-8674422 or by email to [email protected]
Speaking to KCLR News, Carlow Kilkenny TD John McGuinness welcomed the announcement, saying that “these payments to farmers are hugely important, for the ongoing production of meat, and indeed for the export market aswell.”
“It feeds into the support that’s needed for rural Ireland, and where you have, as the scheme suggests, beef welfare, it promotes the end production of quality meat, and in doing that, it helps the sector greatly.”
