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Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Ceisteanna (875)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

875. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will work with farmers to ensure that participants in the beef data genomics programme will not face penalties due to not having sufficient four or five-star animals in their herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23479/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It provides funding of €300 million over the six year programme and addresses widely acknowledged weaknesses in the maternal genetics of the Irish suckler herd, makes a positive contribution to farmer profitability and reduces the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production.

BDGP provides for annual payments to participating farmers for completion of defined actions as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. For 2020, a key requirement in BDGP I is for participating farmers to ensure that at least 50% of their reference animals are heifers/eligible suckler cows that are rated at 4/5 stars on the replacement index. Under BDGP II, which started in 2017, the requirement for replacement heifers is 20% of their reference animals.

Since 2017, ICBF has been posting “BDGP Eligibility” reports to participating herds after each genetic evaluation run to give herd owners an up to date picture of where their herds stood in relation to programme targets. Targeted letters were included with these reports which explained exactly what participating herds had to do and explained options for herds that were not on course to meet certain targets. These reports and letters continue to be posted after each evaluation.

ICBF has also been specifically targeting 4/5 star females for genotyping so that herds will have as many genotyped 4/5 star females as possible on 31st Oct 2020.  In addition, my Department introduced flexibility in allowing the results of later evaluations be considered while also allowing animals whose rating improved while in the herd to be considered.

Over 2,000 herd owners have been telephoned by ICBF staff in recent months to explain that they were not on course to meet the genotyped 4/5 star female target on 31st Oct and to offer advice to these herd owners on the best course of action. ICBF will continue to monitor herds up to 31st Oct and will contact any herds that fall into non-compliance.

ICBF, in conjunction with my Department and ICOS, has assisted marts to arrange special sales of genotyped 4/5 star females. Herds with surplus females were notified of these sales by letter and text message. Herds that need to purchase these animals were also notified. These sales will continue to run between now and 31st Oct.  A new ‘Mart Tracker’ facility was also made available by ICBF which allows farmers to see the numbers of genotyped 4/5 star females being traded through marts every day.

Articles have been published in farming media since the outset of the programme in 2015 with the focus in more recent times on ensuring farmers meet the 31st October requirement. The requirement has been in the programme since its inception and each participant would have been made aware of it as part of the compulsory training module that accompanied the programme and that each participant was required to attend. Failure to meet the requirement this year in either BDGP I or BDGP II will result in penalties being applied to payments as provided for in the Terms and Conditions of both programmes.

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