The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been called on by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) to immediately issue the Beef Finishers Payment (BFP).

Making the calls, ICMSA Livestock Committee chairperson Des Morrison noted that the department had given a commitment to make the payment in November.

Morrison said the payment relates to losses suffered by farmers in the time period from February 1 to June 12, 2020.

He added, given that the closing date for applications was early September, it is to be expected that farmers should be receiving this payment without any further delay.

Morrison said that – set against the serious profitability issues in beef production and the annual bills traditionally paid at this time of year – the issuing and receipt of this payment would give farmer cash-flow a much-needed boost.

Some 28,095 applications were cleared for the scheme back in September, which accounts for 465,888 animals.