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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today announced that it is intended to make payments under the BDGP in December to herds who have met their 2015 requirements. “I am delighted that BDGP payments are on target to commence in December in respect of the first year of a participant’s 6 year contract. These payments will ensure that vital funding is injected into the beef sector before the end of the year.”
The Minister stated that in order to be eligible to receive payment in December, all surveys in relation to animals born up to 30 June 2015 must be completed and returned to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) by 8 December and that all genotyping test kits must be submitted to the relevant laboratories. “I strongly urge all BDGP participants to return all surveys and genotyping samples in order to receive payment in December”.

The Minister continued “In the event that all surveys and samples have not been submitted within the specified timeframe payments will continue to be made in the New Year as herds continue to satisfy scheme requirements”.
The BDGP is a new and innovative measure introduced as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, from which more than 27,000 Irish suckler farmers will benefit over the next six years. It’s a world first in terms of bringing genomic technology to beef farming and can revolutionise beef breeding in this country and help to drive on-farm profitability while adding greatly to our national sustainability agenda.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Martine has recently issued reminders to all participants in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP), urging them to submit all tissue samples and surveys to allow for payment in 2015.

Concluding, the Minister added “compliance levels among participants are already very encouraging, with almost 20,000 applicants having submitted genotyping samples and practically all participants having submitted some or all of their data notifications. It is essential now that applicants who haven’t yet submitted their data or samples do so immediately, in order to secure their payments this year ”.