€28m suckler scheme to open shortly with bluetongue vaccine option
The 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) worth €28 million will open this week for applications.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has confirmed that that this year’s scheme will be very similar in structure to last year’s version.
"It contains the same broad range of straightforward measures, along with the new inclusion of an additional option to vaccinate animals against the current strain of the bluetongue virus (BTV-3)," Minister Heydon said.
"Bluetongue vaccination has been allowed in Ireland since the beginning of the year and in March I announced that it would be funded as an optional action in both the 2026 beef and sheep welfare schemes.
"I would urge livestock owners to consult a private veterinary practitioner when deciding on the best vaccination strategy for their particular enterprise.”
Beef welfare scheme for suckler farmers
The BWS supports farmers in meal feeding suckler calves at weaning and in undertaking other voluntary actions that optimise animal performance while allowing farmers to maximise their payments within the overall scheme allocation.
All suckler farmers with eligible calves born on their holdings between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 can apply for this scheme.
Applications must be lodged online through the MyAgFood portal no later than 5:00p.m on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has stressed that there is no facility for late applications.
This will therefore allow participants who have passed all the necessary validation checks to be paid before the end of the year.
Suckler farmers can simultaneously participate in both the BWS and the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). Minister Heydon added: “It is important to remember that this scheme is part of a package of dedicated supports for suckler and beef farmers.
"Combined with the SCEP and Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme, all three schemes are worth over €83 million to farmers in 2026.
"I encourage all eligible farmers to read the scheme terms and conditions and to submit their applications on time.”
Participants are reminded to retain copies of receipts for the meal feeding and for the vaccination and testing actions, if they also choose those options.
They should maintain relevant records and submit them, on request, to DAFM to facilitate the efficient processing of scheme payments. BWS participants should not select the optional faecal count action if they are also participating in the Parasite Control Consult programme under the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH).
The TASAH programme involves herd or flock visit/s by a nominated veterinary practitioner who will examine parasite control management on-farm, make customised recommendations on best practice and conduct a faecal egg count test for roundworms (stomach or gut worms).
