Data submission deadline
Time is fast running out for farmers still wishing to apply for some of the Government’s farm schemes. According to DAFM, many farmers have yet to submit essential data needed to receive scheme payments. For several of these schemes, the submission deadline is 1st of November, 2023. This leaves a very small window of opportunity which we would urge eligible farmers to exploit.
NBWS Blood Samples
Among the schemes with this data submission deadline is the National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS). This scheme aims to “further increase the economic efficiency of, and enhance animal health and husbandry on, suckler farms”. The scheme promises to pay farmers €15 euro per animal tested for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) up to a maximum of 20 animals. However, in order to be considered eligible for the payment, blood samples must be submitted to an accredited laboratory for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) testing by 5:30p.m. next Wednesday.
In addition to funding for IBR testing, the NBWS offers farmers a payment of €35 per calf up to a maximum of 40 calves. The condition for this payment is provision of 4 weeks of meal feeding pre-weaning, and two weeks of meal feeding post-weaning.
SCEP: calf and dam data
Wednesday is also a key submission deadline date for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). Farmers participating in this programme must submit calf and dam weight data for each cow and calf.
Weights must be submitted within 7 days of recording, and both cow and calf should be weighed on the same day. Calves weighed must be over 50 days old and should not yet be weaned.
DBWS: calf weights
The 1st November submission deadline also applies for farmers participating in the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme. Under this scheme, farmers can expect to receive €20 per eligible calf weighed. In order to be deemed eligible, farmers must submit weight data for a minimum of five calves, and a maximum of fifty.
Only male calves sired by a dairy bull, and male and female calves sired by a beef bull, will be considered for payment. These calves should have been born between 1st of July 2022 and 30th June 2023, and be at least 12 weeks old when they are weighed.
In addition, the calf must be registered on the farm for at least 10 days before weighing takes place.
