A 50% INCREASE in the 2025 Suckler Beef Welfare Scheme – up from €50 to €75 – has been welcomed by farm representatives this week.

The increased funding was confirmed last week following a meeting between IFA representatives and the Dept. of Agriculture – the maximum payment under the scheme this year will now be €3,375 [45 weanlings].

Combined with the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme [SCEP], this will bring the total payments for suckler cows to €225 per head, according to IFA National Livestock Chair, Declan Hanrahan.

“Bringing payments on suckler cows to €225/cow is important, but this payment does not come without costs for participating farmers.

“Minister Martin Heydon must make good on his election promises to bring total suckler cow supports to a minimum of €300/cow and remove the ‘cost incurred income forgone’ criteria,” said Declan Hanrahan..

The full payment of €75, will be based on farmers carrying out three measures with their weanlings: meal feeding, €35; clostridial or respiratory vaccinations, €15; and a choice of carrying out three silage samples or two dung samples, €25.

Meal feeding is a compulsory measure with the other two ‘optional or voluntary’ but the IFA has advised farmers to carry out all three measures as they represent ‘good, practical farm practices’.

The upper limit for the number of cows/ weanlings qualifying for the scheme has been increased from 40 to 45

According to the IFA, the scheme is expected to open in August with measures to be completed by mid-October and payments to be made in December.

Galway IFA Chair, Stephen Canavan, told the Farming Tribune that any increase in payments was to be welcomed, adding that there was a commitment in the Programme for Government for this to increase to €300 per cow over the next four years.

“At least, the increase this year from €50 to €75, is a step in the right direction and will be a help to those involved in suckler farming. We are urging all farmers to draw down all of the payments that are available,” said Stephen Canavan.

Pictured: Stephen Canavan: Draw down all payments.