Minister announces extension to the closing date for the National Beef Welfare Scheme 2023

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. has announced that he was extending the closing date for the National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS) to midnight on 26 September 2023.

This is to allow as many farmers as possible apply for the scheme.

The scheme will support farmers in meal feeding suckler calves in advance of and after weaning, and in testing for the presence of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) in their herds.

Both actions are mandatory for farmers who wish to participate in the scheme.

Farmers who take part in the NBWS as well as the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), can earn €200/cow calf pair up to a maximum number of animals.

Commenting on the extension, Minister McConalogue emphasised the importance of participants in the scheme engaging with their vet as early as possible, as the IBR element of the scheme must be completed and the blood samples with the laboratory by 5.30pm on 1 November 2023 at the very latest.

Participants must get their herd tested for IBR by engaging a veterinarian to select, blood sample and test up to twenty animals for IBR antibodies.

“Where a herd has twenty or more bovines, twenty must be tested. If a herd has less than twenty bovines, then all must be tested. Farmers will be paid up to €300 per herd depending on the number of animals tested for IBR.

Participants are also reminded that they must introduce meal feeding for a period of four weeks pre-weaning and two weeks post-weaning to reduce calf stress at weaning time.

Farmers will be paid €35 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 calves.

Applications must be lodged online through agfood.ie.

There is no facility for late applications after the new extension closing date of 26 September 2023 and the Department expects to commence payments to cleared cases in early December 2023.

Minister McConalogue concluded, “The suckler and beef sectors play a really important role in our rural economies and direct payments are vital to support farmers in this role.

“In recognition of this I have ensured that along with substantial payments under the CAP Strategic Plan, suckler farmers can also access this national scheme in 2023.”