€100M fund

IFA national dairy committee chair Tom Phelan has said it is wrong of Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to exclude prime beef cattle from dairy farmers from the BEAM scheme and it should be changed immediately. IFA president Joe Healy has spoken to the Minister about this and the IFA has also lobbied other cabinet members on the issue.

TAMS

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady has called on the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to issue approvals to all farmers who applied to TAMS tranche 14, which closed on 5 July.

Brady said farmers who applied are anxious to proceed with work, particularly as the weather is ideal for construction and works can be completed well in advance of next winter.

Nitrates

IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney has called on the Government to ensure that the soon-to-be published recommendations from the nitrates derogation review support the sustainable development of the sector. “The recommendations of the expert group established by the Department of Agriculture cannot be just about more restrictions,” Cooney said.