FUNDING for the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) needs to be nearly stepped up to bring into line with the rate of payment under the new Suckler Cow Scheme, Galway IFA Chairman said this week.

The told the Farming Tribune that he had asked Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue during his recent visit to Galway to seriously review the rates of payment in SIS, which currently works out at €12 per ewe.

“A suckler cow is classed as one livestock unit while seven ewes are also one unit. Yet the SIS payment for a sheep livestock unit is way under half what will be paid out under the new SCEP and BEEP-S schemes,” said Stephen Canavan.

He added that the IFA had been lobbying for a long time for an increase in the ewe payments but the increase of €2 per ewe – €10 to €12 – was no more than a token gesture.

“We know full well how important the new schemes will be for suckler farmers but we need an equivalent payment for sheep.

“As things stand, the payment for a sheep livestock unit (€84 made up 7 X €12), is completely insufficient. We have consistently called for a €30 per ewe payment,” said Stephen Canavan.