BDGP now losing 150 applicants every day
THE exodus of farmers from the BDGP scheme (Beef Data and Genomics Programme) continues to grow over the past week with almost 1,400 farmers now having withdrawn after initially getting in.
By the middle of last week, the withdrawals total had reached 1,340 and was continuing to rise, according to senior IFA representatives.
Fears continue to grow for the viability of the scheme unless key changes are implemented, relating primarily to penalty claw backs and the six year duration of the programme.
Connacht IFA chairmen and livestock representatives met with Dept. of Agriculture officials in Roscommon last week in an effort to try and press the case for changes in the scheme but already there are fears that it may be a case of ‘too little too late’.
“Almost five months to the day since the scheme was announced, this was the first time that Department officials have come outside the M50 to meet farmer representatives in the West,” said Connacht IFA Regional Chairman, Tom Turley.
He said that while there were many details and changes they were seeking in relation to the star ratings of heifers and the genomic testing regime, two major issues needed to be addressed.
“Sadly the scheme has not been a well thought out one. The six year commitment is simply too long while the regime of clawback penalties is just a massive disincentive for farmers to either join or stay in the scheme,” said Tom Turley.
He said that in the meantime, the only advice he could give to BDGP farmers was to attend the upcoming information meetings being organised that would be attended by Dept. officials.
“I would say to farmers not to make up their minds one way or another until they go to those meetings. Tease out any concerns you have, get all the information you can, and then make up your minds,” said Tom Turley.
He said that ‘so be it’ if the scheme had to go back to Brussels to be amended. “It is better to have a delayed scheme that works than a bad one that will never achieve the purpose for which it was intended,” said Tom Turley.
The scheme that was introduced on June 5 last attracted a total of 29,531 applications but Minister Simon Coveney confirmed to Deputy Denis Naughten last month that by September 21, there had been 724 withdrawals from the scheme.
However nine days later on Wednesday, September 30, Dept. of Agriculture officials confirmed to IFA representatives at their meeting in Roscommon that the withdrawal figure had almost doubled to 1,340.