The Beef Plan Movement (BPM) has carried out a survey of suckler farmers to gauge their interest in a suckler reduction scheme.

The work was carried out courtesy of the organisation’s social media platforms and 786 farmers took part.

“While we are diametrically opposed to a suckler reduction scheme, it was important to ask suckler farmers what they want," BPM’s vice-chair John Maloney said.

“The BPM has no issue with the introduction of a retirement scheme for farmers.

The survey posed seven questions, the first of which asked if farmers agree with the statement that suckler and beef farmers are not for sale at €3000/cow or any other price?

To this, 66.7% answered 'yes'; 20.5% 'no'; and 12.8% 'don't know'.

When they survey then asked if farmers would be interested in reducing their suckler herd size to avail of a €3000/cow payment, the majority (63%) said they wouldn't; 10% were unsure with the remaining 27% saying they would.

Following on from this, 93.5% agreed that said payment would need to be tax-free.

The survey also asked farmers how much they would resuce their herd size by, which the responses as follows:

When asked if they be more in favour of a grant to keep suckler farming viable - the support level proposed was in the range approximat €350 - €400/cow - 88.4%. said they would.

Finishing off, the survey asked farmers if they believe a large-scale reduction in the Irish suckler herd would help to noticeably reduce the effects of climate change, with the results as follows:

Commenting further, Maloney said:

“Over two-thirds of Irish suckler farmers are committed to maintaining their current herd size," Maloney said.

“The other one third are either undecided or are considering the financial benefits of such a scheme.

"Virtually all the farmers interested in a reduction scheme would expect the payment to be tax free to make it viable.

“Also, nearly 74% of farmers who would take up a suckler reduction scheme would like to have the option of returning to suckling after a set time period. It is also interesting to note that almost 87% of farmers believe a large-scale cull of the suckler herd will have no impact on climate change.

“This is significant, considering the whole point of a cull of the suckler herd is to mitigate against the effects of climate change.”