Welcome for news on sheep welfare scheme
SHEEP farmers across the county have welcomed the confirmation from Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue, of a number of positive adjustments to the Sheep Welfare Scheme.
The Minister confirmed the extension of a fifth year to the scheme, starting from February 1, 2021, as well as the addition of 2017 as a new reference year – and the acceptance of new entrants for 2021.
There are close on 4,000 sheep farmers in Co. Galway with an average flock size of around 80 ewes – participants in the scheme receive a payment of €10 per ewe in return for putting in place a series of agreed welfare measures.
According to Minister McConalogue, the extension of the scheme for a fifth year came as a result of securing an additional €17m in the 2021 Budget – those already in the scheme will be automatically ‘enrolled’ for the coming year.
The Minister said the additional year would need the go-ahead from the EU Commission, but added that he was confident of receiving a positive outcome to the Irish Government’s request in this regard.
Minister McConalogue said that for the purposes of the scheme, a new entrant to sheep farming is defined ‘as an applicant who has applied for a new herd number in the period January 1 to December 31 in the year preceding the scheme year’.
According to the Minister, a new entrant can also be an applicant with an existing herd number who has not held, or traded in, sheep for a two-year period up to October 31, preceding the scheme year.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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