Applications to enter a new national sheep welfare scheme are expected to open in early April of this year.
This new national sheep welfare scheme is worth €15 million, and will see a payment of €8/ewe delivered to farmers participating in the scheme.
The head of direct payments division at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), David Buckley said last week that payments in the new scheme are expected in November.
Buckley said that while this new national sheep welfare scheme opens in early April, it remains subject to “deep approval”.
He added that payments for year one of the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) will be made in late May.
New sheep welfare scheme
This €8/ewe payment was announced for the sheep sector during Budget 2024.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) sheep council reported that the scheme will consist of two categories with two actions worth €4/category.
Participants will select one measure from each category to qualify for the full €8/ewe payment.
The following measures are proposed to be included in the scheme:
- Shearing;
- Body Condition Score (BCS);
- Plunge dipping;
- Clostridial vaccination.
The IFA met with the DAFM to discuss the terms and conditions of the new scheme in January 2024.
The national sheep committee has sought the most up-to-date reference number for scheme participants to reflect the number of ewes currently on farm.
€15 million funding has been allocated to the new scheme with the payment available for over 1.8 million ewes.
With the existing €12/ewe SIS payment, the additional €8/ewe payment will bring direct supports to Irish sheep farmers to a combined €20/ewe.
A total of 16,847 farmers received 85% advance payments under the SIS worth €19 million in November.
The 15% of balancing payments are due to be issued to farmers in May 2024.