Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has today (Friday, March 21) confirmed that payments for scheme year one of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CSP) Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme have commenced.

In total, over €4.73 million has commenced issuing to some 7,612 participating farmers.

The CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme provides support to dairy farmers to improve the animal health and welfare of the national dairy herd by using better genetic merit beef sires.

This is the first year of the scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan with payments issuing in respect of eligible calves born on an applicant’s holdings between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

Minister Heydon said: “With a budget of €25 million over four years, the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme is an important step in the development of a dairy-beef sector in Ireland.

"Last year was the first year of the scheme and its success so far demonstrates that farmers recognise the benefits from the greater integration of the beef and dairy herds that this scheme supports.

“The CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme will reopen for applications in April 2025 for new applicants, but farmers who applied in 2024 do not need to reapply as their participation in the scheme will automatically continue."

Payment of €20 per eligible calf (up to a maximum of 50 calves per applicant herd) will be made to eligible participants.

These payments will be visible in farmers bank accounts in the coming days, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Farmers wishing to contact the department regarding their CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme payments can ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057-8674422 or by email to [email protected]