Cut to Dairy–Beef Scheme Hits Young Farmers Hardest.

As payments under the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme (NDBWS) begin to issue this week, it has emerged that the maximum number of eligible calves payable per farmer has been reduced from 50 to 31, almost 20 fewer, due to the scheme being oversubscribed. 

While the payment of €20 per calf remains, the cut means the maximum payment per farmer now falls to €620 instead of the anticipated €1,000. 

This outcome is deeply concerning for all who signed up, but it is especially damaging for young farmers and new entrants who are in the crucial early stages of building their farm business. These are often the farmers most reliant on the supporting income that such schemes were intended to deliver.

If schemes like the NDBWS cannot deliver fully, what message does that send to a new generation considering rearing dairy-beef calves? It undermines confidence in future generational renewal and in the reliability of support pledged to young farmers when they engage in such schemes.

Macra National President Josephine O’Neill commented, “At a time when beef farmers are already facing huge uncertainty and tight margins, it’s disappointing to see such significant cuts. Decisions like this further destabilise beef farming in Ireland when security and stability are needed, particularly to encourage and retain the next generation of beef farmers.”

Macra calls on the Minister to reconsider the decision and ensure that young farmers who fulfilled their commitments receive the full support originally promised under the scheme.