Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has said that the beef data programme is proving to be beneficial for farmers in Limerick after it was announced by the Minister for Agriculture that €236,372.70 is set to be provided to 909 suckler farmers in the county under the beef data programme. Over 32,000 suckler cow farmers are due to benefit under the 2014 Beef Data Programme.
“I am delighted that suckler farmers in Limerick who are participating in the Beef Data programme are due to receive payments from next week. Payments will be provided in two tranches, firstly an 80% advance payment. The balancing payment will issue when information on autumn born calves has been finalised.
“The programme is going from strength to strength and there has been a 21% increase in the participation level this year with 5,700 new suckler farmers getting on board. This Programme benefits farmers at an individual level and is also hugely important in helping to improve the national herd and our beef industry. It helps farmers improve the genetic quality of their livestock, while maintaining a flow of crucial data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) that will generate advances in cattle breeding at national level.
“Our suckler herd is vital to the success of our beef industry which involves more than 100,000 farm families and is directly responsible for almost 8,000 more jobs in processing, sales and marketing. Exports from the sector are valued at around €2 billion per annum. The Beef Data Programme in conjunction with the Beef Genomics Scheme is vital in terms of increasing the breeding data available improving efficiency and ultimately profitability at farm level. That’s why this Government is investing in the suckler herd and in our suckler farmers.”