Concerns affecting Mayo farmers outlined to minister
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has responded to a number of significant concerns currently affecting farmers in Mayo.
Mayo TD Alan Dillon told him there is the issue in respect of the beef exceptional aid measure scheme, BEAM.
The Castlebar-based deputy explained: "Many farmers are seeking an extension to December 31, 2021, for applicants who did not meet the 5% production reduction.
“I understand the Department of Agriculture is engaging with the EU Commission regarding flexibility on the deadline.
“Secondly, we need to see meaningful action on the issue of realigning food prices with production costs.
“There is significant frustration among farmers with regard to attempts by factories to bring down the price of beef and due to the increased production costs associated with finishing cattle.
“There is significant concern in that regard. We need to see accelerated measures and more action in this area to ensure Meat Industry Ireland is left in no doubt that the undermining of market conditions by meat factories will not be accepted.
“On the issue of the green certificate, I would appreciate an accelerated focus on this matter.
"There was an allocation of further college placement courses for applicants by certain other departments, such as the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
In response, Minister McConalogue confirmed an extension to the BEAM scheme "such that 2021 is a new reference year to allow farmers who were struggling to meet the 5% nitrogen reduction criteria to opt for a new reference year of January to December should they so wish."
At least half of applicants are already on course to meet the 5% reduction and there is no change to their situation, but those in trouble have the opportunity to opt for the new reference year, he stated.
In respect of green certificate courses and the challenges in that regard in County Mayo in particular, he said it is a matter on which he is engaged with Teagasc in terms of trying to increase the capacity for online part-time courses to facilitate those students and the demand that exists.
Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said there is a real problem with the part-time online courses.
“We had a situation in Westport some weeks ago where the course was over-subscribed to the extent that there were hundreds of applications but only 200 places.
“Applicants were accepted and then they were told later the same evening that they were no longer accepted but that they could be given a place in 2022.
"Measures need to be put in place specifically to address this shortage of part-time Green Cert places.”