Tom Hayes
Question:321 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of special beef grants will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [20676/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named applied for special beef premium under the 2002 scheme in respect of 92 animals. Under the EU regulations governing the 2002 special beef premium a stocking density of 1.9 livestock units per hectares applies, based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area aid application. As the forage area declared on the area aid application is 41.37 hec tares, the number of units that may be calculated for livestock premia purposes is 78.60 livestock units.
The reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of the calendar year as follows: male cattle up to and including 24 months old applied on for 2002 special beef premium and bull premium – 0.6 livestock unit each; male cattle over 24 months old applied on for 2002 special beef premium – 1.0 livestock unit each; ewes on which the producer applies for 2002 ewe premium – 0.15 livestock unit each; suckler cows: 1.0 livestock unit each; milk quota of 876 gallons (if not in milk recording) – 1.0 livestock unit each. Milk quota livestock unit equivalent is obtained by dividing a producer's milk quota in respect of a given calendar year by the national average yield per cow for that year, or by the recorded average milk yield per cow where the producer is in an official milk recording scheme.
The person named successfully appealed the level of milk quota recorded against the premia applications downwards to 8,854 gallons. Consequently the number of reckonable livestock units on which special beef premia for 2002 may be calculated has been revised to 68.5 livestock units in total.
To date the person named has been paid special beef premium and extensification premium in respect of 63.28 animals, less 12.5% due to special beef premium overshoot reduction to applicants with in excess of 50 animals. The balance of special beef premium and extensification premium in respect of the remaining 28.72 animals will issue to the person named during October.