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Publish Date : 02-Dec-2016

Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced a 4million package of support for local livestock farmers.

The funding, provided under the EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid, will enable livestock farmers, including milk producers, to apply for assistance to incentivise the humane destruction of BVD Persistently Infected (PI) calves within four weeks of an initial BVD test; improve pig meat quality; manage soils and nutrients more effectively; and receive training in business planning and risk management.

Announcing the support package, Miss McIlveen said: I am acutely aware of the extreme and prolonged difficulties faced by many of our livestock farmers over the past two years. I am encouraged that dairy farmers have already had the opportunity to bid for EU aid to reduce their milk production, where that suited their particular business circumstances. Those farmers should receive a much-needed cash injection in the new year.

However, I want to be able to do more for all livestock farmers affected by the recent market turbulence and to help build a stronger, more sustainable and competitive industry for the future. That is why I pressed for a favourable share of the UK Exceptional Adjustment Aid envelope and why I have decided to use our 4million allocation to fund measures that will support all eligible livestock sectors here, including milk producers.

The Minister continued: In considering the measures to be implemented I wanted to maximise the impact of the available money and ensure that it makes a meaningful difference to our industry going forward. My officials and I have consulted a range of key stakeholders in the sector to seek views on where the support could best be targeted. The measures I am now announcing have been shaped by the feedback from that consultation. There was consensus around a number of these measures and I am confident that many local farmers will see tangible benefits as a result.

The Minister concluded: I have asked my officials to work up the detail of these schemes for implementation as soon as possible and I will announce further details soon. In the meantime, I urge all dairy and beef farmers to continue to tag and test for BVD in line with the legislation and to continue to remove BVD PIs promptly in order to reduce the disease risks.

The UK allocation of aid is 30.2million (around 26.6million), of which Northern Ireland will receive 4.8million (around 4.07million). The following schemes will be supported:
assistance to incentivise the humane destruction of dairy and beef calves persistently infected with BVD (PIs) at a flat rate which includes a contribution towards the cost of replacing the animal and not simply the cost of removal to slaughter.
a programme to enhance the competitiveness of the NI pig industry through training in endoparasites control and financial support for the provision of appropriate medication.
a free soil sampling and analysis service, plus information and advice on how to best use the results of their analyses to support efficient farm nutrient management and hence sustainable production.
training in business planning and risk management through CAFRE.
The detail of the schemes has yet to be finalised and legislation will be required to bring some of them into operation. Further details of the schemes and how to apply for support will be announced in the new year.

The Exceptional Adjustment Aid is part of a 500million aid package agreed at the Agri-Fish Council in July. The scheme requires Member States to develop measures to support milk producers and/or farmers in other livestock sectors, or parts of livestock sectors. The overall aim of the aid scheme is to promote economic sustainability of farms and contribute to market stabilisation. Member States are required to report to the Commission in October 2017 on measures taken and their initial impact.

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