Too many farmers are 'losing' out because the market value of their stock exceeds current TB compensation ceilings, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA).

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has repeatedly highlighted that he is considering a number of new measures for a revamped TB control plan.

According to the ICSA Animal Health and Welfare chair, John Barron, any revised TB strategy must include an "increase in the upper caps on compensation".

"It is unacceptable that farmers should be left to carry major losses when it comes to the valuations of their stock," Barron said.

Currently, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) TB Compensation Arrangements booklet, the following ceilings apply under the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme (OFMV):

However, Barron said ICSA has been consistently clear that the cap on valuations must be increased.

The ICSA wants to see the €3,000 ceiling increase to €5,000 for commercial animals, and from €5,000 to €7,000 for pedigree animals.

Barron added: “These caps have not kept pace with reality.

He said that while farmers are waiting to see what Minister Heydon’s final TB strategy will contain, the fact remains that DAFM "had promised to engage with farming organisations on compensation caps as far back as February".

"This problem is only getting worse with every month that goes by, and whenever the plan is finally unveiled it must include an increase to these caps, backdated to February, so that farmers are not left worse off," he warned.

The ICSA would also like to see supplementary compensation supports, such as the Hardship Grant and Income Supplement, revised upwards.

“Inflation has severely eroded the value of these payments, and the current rates do not adequately protect farmers from the real financial losses suffered during a TB breakdown," Barron added.