Today (Wednesday, September 9) is the closing date for applications under the €50 million funded Beef Finishers Payment.
To date, there have been over 25,700 applications under the scheme, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. These farmers have claimed payment on over 406,000 animals altogether.
Since the opening date for applications on August 19, farm organisations have been encouraging eligible farmers to apply for the payment.
“In particular, I would like to remind farmers who sold factory-type cattle in the mart to check if these animals were slaughtered within 30 days, as these animals can be included for payment,” Graham explained.
Graham argued that the importance of the payment “could not be underestimated”.
“While the €50 million budget is insufficient to cover the total losses incurred by beef finishers [due to Covid-19], the fund will go some way towards keeping the show on the road for many. The application process is simple, and I would encourage all those with eligible animals to apply without delay,” Graham concluded.
There is scope for farmers to claim payment for up to 100 eligible animals per herd. Based on estimates of eligible animals, a rate in the region of €100 per animal will be payable.
In the event of an over-subscription, the rate of payment per animal will be subject to a linear cut in order to remain within the available overall budget of €50 million.