Press release
€19.98m in payments to 23,132 farmers commence issuing under the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, today confirmed that payments under the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 (BWS) have commenced. Over €19.98 million will issue to 23,132 participating farmers this week.
The objective of the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 is to further increase the economic efficiency of and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms.
Minister McConalogue said:
“I have increased targeted supports to the beef sector in successive years through this National Beef Welfare Programme and the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). Farmers that participated in both schemes this year will receive a payment per cow and calf of €200. These measures support farm incomes, but also help to deliver on efficiency, environmental and animal welfare goals and with all these benefits in mind, I was very pleased to secure funding in Budget 2025 to increase this payment to €225 for next year.”
The Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 supports farmers in meal feeding suckler calves before and after weaning, and in vaccinating against clostridial diseases and/or calf pneumonia. Meal feeding, which is a mandatory action under the scheme, will be paid at a rate of €35 per eligible calf with vaccination, with is an optional action, paid at a rate of €15 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 calves. Farmers who select and complete both scheme actions will be paid €50 per calf subject to a maximum overall payment of €2,000 (40 calves).
Payments will be visible in farmer’s bank account in the coming days. The issuing of payment under the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme is crucial to the beef sector and farm families and the processing of such payments at the earliest possible opportunity is a key priority for the Department.
Farmers are reminded that if they have received a request to submit meal feeding and/or vaccination documentation, they should return them as soon as possible.
ENDS