Farmers have been urged to take heed that the closing date for the Beef Finishers Payment is next Wednesday (September 9) and to get their applications in on time if they are eligible to do so, by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA).

Commenting, chairperson of the ICMSA’s Livestock Committee Des Morrison advised any farmer who slaughtered animals between February 1, 2020, and June 12, 2020, inclusive, to apply for the payment immediately via: www.agfood.ie.

“The Department of Agriculture expects the payment to be in the region of €100 per head and it will be payable on cows, steers, heifers or bulls provided they are aged over eight months-of-age,” Morrison said.

It is also important to point that all farmers – including dairy farmers with more than 40 dairy cows – are eligible to apply for this payment and there is no stock reduction requirement associated with this scheme, unlike the previous BEAM [Beef Emergency Aid Measure] scheme.

“In addition, if a farmer sold an animal farm-to-farm or through a mart and that animal was slaughtered within 30 days of purchase in the February 1 to June 12, 2020, period, then that animal will also be eligible for payment to the selling party,” Morrison added.

Spring 2020 will be remembered for the start of Covid-19 in Ireland and it had a hugely negative impact on beef prices during the spring period with farmers losing heavily, the chairman noted.

The Beef Finisher Payment will go some way to compensate farmers who slaughtered cattle during the specified period – and it is vital that every eligible farmer applies before the deadline of Wednesday next, September 9, he concluded.