Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
448. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action that will be taken to help farmers involved in the suckler herd (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33550/14]
View answerI am acutely aware of the challenges faced by suckler farmers in Ireland and the impact which declining beef prices have had on farm incomes in the sector in recent months. Against this backdrop, I announced details of an investment package worth up to €40m in 2014 aimed at sustaining a critical mass in the suckler cow herd, the seedbed for our beef industry. This package includes:
- €23m for the Beef Genomics Scheme;
- €10m for the Beef Data Programme;
- €5m for the Beef Technology Adoption Programme; &
- €2m in residual payments under the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme.
I also invited key stakeholders, including farm organisations, beef processors and relevant state agencies, to a round table discussion on the future development of the beef sector on 17 April and 3 June last. I am currently finalising a date for the autumn meeting of this roundtable.
The Beef Roundtable discussions will reconvene quarterly to exchange intelligence on market developments and forecasts, including in relation to supply, demand, prices, product specifications, and retail changes. Resulting from the discussions in the Roundtable, I launched a public consultation on the possibility of legislating for the recognition of producer organisations in the beef sector, while I will also shortly launch a ‘Beef Pricewatch’ online tool to make price information more accessible and free of charge to farmers.
I am also mindful of reviewing the progress we have made in delivering on the Food Harvest strategy and developing new areas of strategic engagement into the future. With this in mind, I requested Mr. Michael Dowling, Chairman of the Beef 2020 Activation Group, to review the implementation of the Activation Group’s report. Mr. Dowling’s report has been delivered, and I have asked roundtable participants to reflect on its recommendations. I have again in recent weeks met with farmers and processors, and I shortly expect to receive a comprehensive response to the Dowling report from the Meat industry.
From a longer term strategic perspective, the need to maintain a viable suckler herd into the future is a core component of the draft €4 billion draft Rural Development Programme for the period to 2020. Under the new RDP, suckler farmers will be eligible for participation under a range of measures, including:
- a substantial new agri-environment/climate scheme (GLAS), which will build on the progress made under REPS and AEOS. This will provide for a maximum payment of €5,000 for up to 50,000 farmers and a further payment of up to €2,000 for a limited number of farmers who take on particularly challenging actions;
- continued strong support for disadvantaged areas (now known as Areas of Natural Constraint) to the tune of about €195 million per year;
- knowledge transfer and innovation measures, aimed at underpinning farm viability, sustainability and growth through the adoption of best practice and innovative solutions in the beef sector;
- a new beef data and genomics measure worth up to €52 million per year aimed at improving the genetic quality of the suckler beef herd; and
- a separate strand of the support for on-farm capital investment will be ring-fenced for young farmers at a higher rate of aid intensity of 60%.
I am confident that this combined focus on both the immediate and longer term, together with ongoing engagement by state agencies such as Bord Bia and Teagasc, will ensure the sector remains on a sustainable footing.
