Financial Supports for Farmers

The Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. For further details on the below schemes please contact your local Regional Veterinary Office.

Contact the Department

On Farm Market Valuation Scheme

The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme (OFMV) is the main compensation scheme available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown in their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value, subject to ceilings, of an animal as if they were not affected by disease. A farmer is given a list of Independent Valuers by their SAO to choose who values their reactors.

OFMV Ceilings

The following ceilings will apply to payment in respect of an individual bovine animal.

1. Pedigree cows & pedigree in calf heifers - ceiling of €5000 each
2. Three pedigree stock bulls allowed in the same breakdown episode - ceiling of €5000 each.
3. Any other individual bovine animal - ceiling of €3,000 each

Accepting or Rejecting a Valuation

V8 Form

The V8 is the form used for farmers to confirm their acceptance/rejection of their valuation. The V8 form is found in the reactor pack. If they have an AgFood.ie account, they can log in and digitally accept/reject their V8 and sign the ER26X form which accepts the terms and conditions of TB Compensation. Doing so online accelerates communication with the RVO.

V13 Form

The V13 lists all reactor animals to be valued. Valuer completes the V13 Form with their determined value of the reactor animals after the valuation.

How to Accept a Valuation on AgFood.ie

How to Deal with Rejecting a Valuation on AgFood.ie

How to Access the ER26X and V8 online

1. Login into your agfood.ie account.
2. Once logged in select the menu item Animal Disease and Health Management / AHCS. Then review your TB Compensation Active Menu.
3. It is vital that you carefully consider the values on your V13 prior to accepting/rejecting your V8.

Income Supplement

Income Supplement is a targeted scheme which assists farmers who lose 9.5% or more of their herd to disease due to a single TB breakdown. Income supplement is only payable in cases where the 9.5% threshold is met in one continuous restriction period and where full depopulation is not deemed an appropriate measure. It is payable up to a maximum of 199 reactors. If the farmer is not denied permission to move in animals, Income Supplement is capped at 12 months.

Income Supplement Scheme Rates

*Where an ER83 declaring beef breed cows in a Dairy Herd has been received the Suckler Cow rate will apply where any of the cows listed are removed as a reactor

Depopulation Grant

TB Depopulation Grant is paid for each animal removed in the depopulation measure and for those herds that are partial or fully depopulated on foot of a veterinary decision made on analysis of the overall TB disease situation within a herd. . The holding or depopulated portion thereof must remain free of stock for the agreed period.

Depopulation Grant Rates

*Where an ER83 declaring beef breed cows in a Dairy Herd has been received the Suckler Cow rate will apply should any of the cows listed be removed as a reactor

The Depopulation Grant rates quoted represent the maximum available in respect of a 4-month rest period following depopulation. Pro rata deductions will be made in the case of shorter rest periods

Hardship Grant

The Hardship Grant is a targeted scheme aimed at helping eligible herdowners who retain and feed animals during prolonged periods of restriction as a result of a TB breakdown. Herds are only eligible if they have more animals as a result of restriction compared to same date in previous year. The hardship grant scheme runs from 1st November to 30th April.

Hardship Grant Rates

The Scheme provides for a payment of €50 per month for each suckler cow and €30 per month for each dairy cow or other bovine animal retained on the farm subject to a maximum payment of €300 per month. Payments will be calculated from date of eligibility and will not exceed a maximum of 4 months

Where a Herdowner or the Department does not accept the first valuation, another valuer on the panel is chosen. If the Herdowner appeals, they can choose the valuer. If DAFM appeals, depending on the circumstances, the Supervisory Agricultural Officer can also let the farmer choose the valuer.

In cases where the farmer appeals, they will pay the herd owner charge as outlined in Cost of Valuations.

Where the Department appeals the decision, the Department will cover 100% of the cost of the appeal.

Should both parties reject the first valuation the Herdowner will be given the option of choosing the Valuer. In the case of appeal valuations, the summary price listing applicable at the date of the first valuation will also be used for the appeal valuation.

The On -Farm Market Value arbitration process is used when a herdowner or the Department disagree with the appeal valuation of the animals that are due to be removed because of TB. An independent expert panel will review the case and decide on the final value.

Whichever party rejected the appeal valuation may subsequently choose not to proceed with arbitration. Payment of OFMV will then be made on the basis of the appeal valuation (subject to the other party having accepted the appeal valuation). Where necessary a V8 Form accepting the valuation should be returned by the Herdowner.

The Arbitration process can only be undertaken after all the reactors have been removed.

The case will be decided at the next available meeting of the Arbitration Panel. It normally meets four times a year.