Reaching BEAM targets

FOR BEEF farmers who successfully qualified for and who got paid under the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) in 2019, they are one month into the 12-month period where they will have to make a five-percent reduction on the amount of organic nitrogen produced on their farm compared to the reference period.

The reference period for this measure was from July 1, 2018, to the June 30, 2019.

The objective of BEAM is to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector subject to certain conditions. The main condition of the scheme is to reduce organic nitrogen produced on the farm by five per cent by June 30, 2021. This effectively means reducing stock numbers or the age profile of the herd when compared to the reference period. While in most cases there is plenty time to make this reduction, it’s important to start looking at your stock numbers now to ensure you will reach your target. The five per cent is an average figure over a year, so leaving it too late to reduce stock if required will not work and will mean recoupment of the money you received last year.

Check what is the five-percent bovine livestock manure nitrogen reduction for your herd for the reference period. This figure is available on your online agfood account and will have been sent to you in the letter accepting you into the scheme.

Check what your current organic Nitrates figure is so that you can compare with your target figure. Know how many kilograms of organic nitrogen you need to decrease by from July 2020 to June 30, 2021. You may already be hitting your target figure if you decreased stock last year of if you have more young stock instead of animals over two years of age. It is animals over two years of age who carry the higher figures for organic nitrogen production.

The reduction cannot be made by the exporting of slurry or by claiming additional land to offset the figure. The organic nitrogen excretion values are calculated as a daily figure, so every day you hold onto livestock, it’s included in your amount. Sheep are not included in this calculation

Understand that younger animals on your farm contribute less to your total bovine livestock manure nitrogen than suckler cows and animals over two years. Another way to achieve the reduction may be through restructuring of your herd by keeping more yearlings for the next 11 months and reducing the older stock numbers.

BEAM applicants will need to monitor the progress of your reduction over the period to June 2021. That’s because stock numbers will fluctuate, and every newborn calf in the herd will add to your nitrogen figure. When animals go over one year of age the nitrogen figure attached to these animals also increases.

When you log on to your BEAM page under your Agfood account, you will be provided with your nitrates calculation. This should enable you to monitor your current levels against your target level and provide you with an indication of your progress towards achieving the reduction. Where you are above target at present, you need to review your figures again in the autumn after stock sales.

Talk to your farm advisor about options for your farm to meet the reduction, such as scanning cows early to detect empty cows for culling. Sell any cow that is non-productive earlier this autumn instead of holding onto her. Sell weanlings slightly earlier than normal and maybe select heavier stock to finish sooner. By reviewing your figures now you will have options which should ensure that you do not have to repay any money received under BEAM.