Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015
416. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way farmers may determine the genotype star rating of a heifer or cow they intend to purchase at a livestock sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20413/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra420. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the beef data genomics programme, the way farmers can assess the current genotyping star rating of their stock before the new programme begins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20421/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra422. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine where a farmer loses rented land which comprises over 20% of that farmer's land taking, but the farmer has been compliant with the new beef data genomics programme for over four years, if there is any exemption to the planned penalties for this farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20462/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra425. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the new beef data genomics programme and on foot of many representations to this Deputy by farming bodies from this Deputy's constituency, if consideration will be given to the relaxation of the rules that a farmer has to be compliant for the full six years of the programme in favour of a yearly compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20505/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 416, 420, 422 and 425 together.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd.
The replacement strategy is one of the main new elements of the BDGP over and above existing schemes for the suckler beef sector. The need for genetic improvement in the Irish suckler herd is widely acknowledged, and the adoption of genomic technology is a critically important tool in increasing production efficiency and ultimately farmer margins. This scheme is putting €300 million into accelerating genetic improvement and so the requirement for farmers to move towards using 4- and 5-star rated stock bulls and heifers is essential to its objectives. I am fully aware that these requirements will take time which is why there is a 5 year lead-in time.
If this is to be successful, it is vital that farmers are aware of the ratings of the animals currently on their farms and the ratings of the animals they may be purchasing. Farmers will be informed of the details of animals on their farms with eurostar ratings shortly after applying for the scheme. Scheme applicants will then be able to use this information, together with other details provided to them with regarding their number of eligible animals and eligible hectares, to make a final assessment of their commitment to the scheme. There will then be a period of time available to farmers to withdraw from the scheme, without penalty or obligation, should they feel that the scheme is not suitable to their farm enterprises.
In addition, my Department is also exploring means of making information on eurostar ratings widely available and I will be advising livestock marts to play their part in this regard. I am confident that the provision of this information, together with the advice and guidance which scheme applicants will receive on an ongoing basis, will ensure that applicants are in position to meet all of the scheme requirements which are carefully phased-in over a number of years.
The BDGP is an area based payment whereby the number of calved cows on the holding in 2014 is divided by a standard stocking density of 1.5 calved cows/hectare in order to establish the number of eligible hectares for payment. In line with the requirements of the European Commission, the number of eligible hectares declared each year cannot reduce by more than 20% during the course of the programme. If a farmer knows in advance that some land rented to him will not be available from a point in time, then he/she should make every effort to ensure that he/she has sufficient land available. This is a mandatory scheme requirement although force majeure provisions will be in place to deal with unexpected circumstances such as compulsory purchase orders.
The vast majority of farmers applying for the BDGP will have significantly more land than is required in order to receive full payment. Based on participants in the Beef Genomics Scheme, nearly half of farmers (46%) will have a stocking density of less than 0.5 calved cows/hectare whereas 90% of farmers have a stocking density below 1 calved cow per hectare. As an example, a farmer with 10 calved cows and a stocking density of 0.5 will have access to 20 hectares but will only require 6.66 hectares for the purposes of payment under the BDGP. Even if this farmer had a stocking density of 1 calved cow per hectare, he/she would have 50% more land than he/she requires. The vast majority of farmers come under a stocking density of 1 calved cow per hectare and I believe the relatively high stocking density of 1.5 established under the BDGP should provide a sufficient buffer for situations arising on most farms.
The BDGP has been approved under the agri-environment provisions in the Rural Development regulation and can make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the national herd. The six year commitment arises from the requirements of the EU Rural Development Regulation under which this scheme is co-funded by the EU and Irish taxpayers. Article 28 of this Regulation stipulates that all agri-environmental schemes must be at least 5 years in duration and farmers will be familiar with multi-annual schemes such as GLAS and REPS where similar conditions apply.
It is important to note that the penalty system includes appropriate tolerances where only minor non-compliances occur and no penalty will apply in these cases. In more serious cases there must of course be an applicable penalty however, on balance, I am satisfied that the approach reflects the most proportionate response consistent with the Regulations. The requirement to seek full refund of payment only applies in the event of permanent withdrawal from the scheme. As always in such cases, force majeure clauses have been included in the Terms and Conditions where withdrawal is due to circumstances beyond the applicant’s control such as illness or disease. There is also a provision included for transfers by gift or inheritance whereby the transferee can decide to take over the commitments or exit from the programme entirely.
The BDGP is a substantial commitment to the beef sector over the next 6 years and I will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure that it is fit for purpose. The BDGP, like all RDP Schemes, will be subject to mid-term review over the next five years. If that finds that aspects of the scheme can be improved in the future, I will seek to address these issues in consultation with the EU Commission.
