The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) president Seán McNamara has said that while there were “several positive measures” for farmers announced as part of Budget 2025, that the payments “fall short” of “safeguarding” family farms.
McNamara welcomed the €25 increase under the Beef Welfare Scheme, but said it is “disappointing” that there was no amendment made for the upper limit of eligible cows in the Beef Welfare Scheme beyond 40.
“Raising this upper limit to a more realistic figure is what would have made a real difference to those trying to make a full-time living out of suckler farming,” McNamara said.
McNamara added that he was also “disappointed” with the “lack of targeted financial assistance” for beef finishers in a budget that should have helped all sectors.
“It is deeply concerning that no support has been allocated for beef finishers, who are in dire straits heading into another winter of costly input prices and no guaranteed return,” he said.
To address this omission, McNamara said that the additional funding for the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme must be used to support farmers who rear dairy bred calves rather than those who breed them.
McNamara welcomed the €60 million increase in funding for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) but said that this money must reach farmers “more efficiently than it has to date”.
Regarding taxation announcements, McNamara said that while the provision to exclude actively farmed land from the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) for 2025 is a step in the right direction, a longer-term commitment is needed.
“Active farmers can avail of an exemption from this tax by seeking to de-zone their land. We know this is not straightforward and ICSA will be closely monitoring how this is working on the ground,” McNamara said.
On tillage, McNamara said that farmers have made it clear to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, that a payment of €250/ha per annum is needed.