Minister reminds farmers of scheme deadlines on Friday

AGRICULTURE Minister Michael Creed has warned farmers to be mindful that the deadline for submission of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Sucker (BEEP-S) applications is fast approaching.

This Friday – May 15 – is the deadline date, and the Department has said that, in spite of the COVID-19 epidemic – the rate of submissions in 2020 is well ahead of what was encountered for the BPS scheme last year.

The rate of BEEP-S applications to be high.

Farmers have in recent weeks been asked to make their applications via Department helpdesk services, and Minister Creed said these services will remain available to farmers, with extended hours in place in the lead up to the applications’ deadlines. The helpdesk service is available at (076) 106 4420, and will be open from 9.15am to 9pm tonight (May 13) and tomorrow night (May 14).

The opening hours on Friday, deadline day, are from 9.15am to midnight.

“The financial support provided under schemes is a key support for farmers,” Minister Creed (pictured above, right) said. “I would urge is also reported all farmers to lodge their applications as soon as possible before the 15 May deadline.

“Should any farmer require guidance in making their application, they should ring the Department’s helpdesk where a member of staff will be able to assist them.”

Applicants should also note that pre-registration is required at www.agfood.ie, and if farmers should require any assistance with this, they should phone (076) 106 4424.

THERE have been calls for feed mills to use Irish grains after the IFA claimed some feed merchants are producing rations with little or no Irish grain.

IFA Grain Committee Chairman Mark Browne said that maize grain from non-EU sources is being used instead by some, which he claimed is undermining the industry here. Mr Browne said such grains are grown according to different environmental and sustainability standards to Irish grain – with lower cost of production – which allow growers to use pesticides and breeding techniques that are not allowed here.

Some 2.4million tonnes of native grains were produced last harvest, but Mr Browne said that Ireland imported more than half a million tonnes of mainly GM maize from outside sources up the end of January 2020 alone. More than half of this figure came from Brazil.

“This level of imports is inexcusable considering that some feed merchants are refusing to use Irish barley which is still available in store,” he said.

“In relation to trade policy, the incoming government must ensure a level playing field and cannot continue to tell Irish farmers to use fewer plant protection products, less fertilizer, embrace biodiversity, etcetera, while allowing these volumes of maize imports with inferior sustainability standards.”

He said the Government must protect the tillage sector in this country and its importance to Irish agricultural.

“In this regard, Bord Bia must include the use of local and sustainable feed ingredients in any current and proposed farm sustainability schemes,” he said.