Other Schemes

Various Schemes

Some schemes continue to exist outside of the single farm payment, which are claimed on the single payment application.

They include the following

• Disadvantaged area compensatory allowance scheme.
• Afforestation premium and grants scheme.
• Energy crops scheme.
• Dried fodder scheme.
• Suckler welfare scheme.
• Organic farming scheme.
• National energy premium scheme.
• Bioenergy establishment grant scheme.
• Installation aid scheme.
• Early retirement scheme.
• Scheme of investment aid in farm waste management.
• Scheme of investment aid and improvement of dairy hygiene standards.
• Scheme of investment aid in alternative enterprise.
• Rural environmental protection scheme.
• Protection premium scheme.
• Energy crops scheme.
• Area-based disadvantaged area.

Disadvantaged Areas

The disadvantaged areas’ payments are paid on the basis are certain amounts per hectare up to a maximum.  There are three categories.

• Mountain-type grazing.
• More severely handicapped lowland.
• Less severely capped lowland.

Differing rates apply up to certain areas claimed.  The maximum payment is at 34 hectares.

Where disadvantaged areas are used for the production of energy crops and an energy rate of aid is payable to a maximum of 10 hectares.  Disadvantaged areas scheme applicants must meet the minimum forage requirement of three hectares with a minimum density of 0.15 livestock per hectare of forage declared.

• An energy rate of €76.06 on the first 10 hectares and €95.99 per hectare on remaining hectares up to 45 hectares is available for mountain land.
• An energy rate of €64.34 per hectare up to 45 hectares is available for more severely handicapped lowlands.
• An energy rate of €50.62 per hectare up to 45 hectares is available in respect of less severely handicapped lowland and special coastal area handicaps.

In order to qualify for the area-based aid the applicant

• must be aged 18 years and upwards
• hold a herd number issued by the Department of Agriculture.
• must occupy and farm at least 3 acres of forage land including maize crops in a designated disadvantaged area.
• undertake to remain in farming for five years from the first payment of a compensatory allowance.
• comply with good farming practice as set out in the Department’s booklet.
• maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per equivalent forage hectare in the calendar year preceding.

An exemption may be available from the minimum stocking level. The requisite livestock are required for three months a year generally. The application is made on the single payment scheme application.

Disease Eradication Schemes.

The scheme of Bovine TB and Brucellosis eradication applies as follows;

• annual testing on the national herd or designated categories of animals with the primary responsibility for testing and paying for tests assigned to farmers.
• follow-up strategic testing, including blood testing in certain circumstances.
• program to expedite lifting of movement restrictions on certain herds.
• National forum to advise and make recommendations to minister on the scheme.

Valuations are carried out by valuers in accordance with scales and guidelines laid down by the department. A ceiling of €2,800 applies for a single animal with the exception of pedigree stock bull  where a €3,500 premium applies.

There is a mechanisms for appeal in relation to valuation.  There is provision for reference to an arbitration panel in the event of disagreement.  After valuation the reactors are removed from by farm the collection service on the next occasion.

Farmers must produce evidence including tax clearing certificate over a certain amount, a disinfection certification and  factory slaughters docket where applicable.

Supplements

A supplement is payable where  a disease breakdown results in the removal or more than 10% of the animals in the herd and depopulation is deemed not appropriate.  The payment is in respect of animals removed as a reactor from the herd subject to a maximum a hundred qualifying animals. The supplement will cease in the event that

• the animals being purchased or moved on to a restricted holding.
• the farmer failing to cooperate with veterinary inspectors or authorized officers.
• depopulation of the herd being deemed appropriate by the Department.

There are stipulated rates of payment in respect of suckler cows,  dairy cows and other animals.

Where herds are depopulated totally or partially for the purpose of disease control, depopulation grants may be available. Grants are paid for each animal removed in the depopulation measures and removed as reactors since restriction of the holding. Payment is made in each month of the rest period.

Various Grants and Schemes

A hardship grant is paid to assist restricted herd holders whose animals have been retained and fed while restricted.  The herd holder who applies for the hardship grant.  It is submitted to the district veterinary office.

It is payable for a maximum of four months.  It is intended to facilitate the purchase of fodder.  Payments are at a monthly rate per suckler cow or dairy cow subject to a maximum payment of €250 per month.

The payments last until derestriction, supply of milk for sale, receipt of off farm income, depopulation being deemed appropriate, animals being purchased or moved into the restricted holding with the permission of the Department, or failure of cooperation.

Herds depopulated due to BSE are assessed by a panel of valuers.  The valuer assesses on the basis of fair compensation.

The fallen animal collection scheme provides for the collection and destruction of fallen ruminant animals.  It is also subsidizes destruction of non-ruminant falling animals.  Animal collectors must hold a license to offer the service.  The charges per farmer are a capped rate.  The funding for the scheme has been reduced significantly since the financial crisis.

The Suckler cow welfare and quality scheme is designed to

• enhance animal welfare standards produces from the suckler cow herd
• to improve husbandry standards at weaning time, leading to reduced illness and mortality and enhanced health of the herd, improved genetic quality of the national suckler herd.
• To provide education and knowledge-building amongst farmers and   best practice  suckler herd welfare,
• improve competitiveness of beef industry.

Participants in the scheme must undertake to implement the full terms of the scheme.  They are applicable to all eligible suckler cows and calves on the  holding.  Payments are limited to 100 eligible suckler cows. The requirements apply to all suckler cows and calves reared by those cows.

Calves must be registered in the ICDF animal event system.  An AE book is issued to each applicant.  Alternatively, the information may be logged online. Details of sire of calves and calving survey must be recorded in addition to mandatory calf registration for each calf born.

There are requirements in relation to disbudding of calves, castration and minimum calving age.  There are detailed requirements in relation to weaning procedures.

Applicants must submit all information required by the animal event system by paper form or over the Internet.  Applicants must attend suitable training courses.  Applicants under 35 who hold certain qualifications are deemed to have undertaken this requirement.

Payments are fixed at €82 online or €80 manual reporting per eligible suckler cow up to 100.  This scheme was reduced by budget cuts 2009-2010.