The Department of Agriculture is set to claw back almost €20m in Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) payments from farmers who failed to meet the terms and conditions of the scheme.

Of 10,500 farmers who opted to defer the reference period in the scheme to 31 December, 7,700 are not on track to meet the 5% reduction requirement, a Department spokesperson has told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Some 2,500 are on track to meet the 5% target, while a further 350 farmers are estimated to be between 4% and 5%.

Bovine nitrates

Of the 7,700 farmers, the majority (6,400) have actually increased their bovine nitrates. If the 7,700 do not meet the target, it is estimated they will have to pay back €14m.

“The average recoupment from the 7,700 who currently are not on track to meet the 5% reduction requirement is approximately €1,780 [per farmer],” the spokesperson said.

Some 3,600 farmers did not opt to defer the reference period but did not meet the conditions of the scheme. These farmers will have to repay €5.2m in total and, as of this month, €426,000 has been recouped.

“When the final administrative and compliance checks are undertaken by the Department in February 2022, participants will be advised in writing whether they are clear or whether they face recoupment.

“Where they are facing recoupment, participants will be advised they can contact the Department to arrange a repayment plan should this be required,” the spokesperson said.

A total of 19,000 farmers met the scheme requirements. The ICSA has called for a complete review of the scheme.