ICMSA: Old problems in dairy scheme still not fixed
Although the opening of the 2026 National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme is a welcome bit of news, it is irksome to farmers that several difficulties that were identified in last year’s edition have not been attended to this time around.
The 2025 edition turned out to be heavily oversubscribed by farmers, but it is clear that the lessons have not been learned in regard to that situation arising. It is likely - very likely - to recur this year.
“Last year participants received a linear cut in the number of eligible payable calves which was reduced to 31 from 50 in the Terms and Conditions,” the ICMSA Livestock Committee Chairman Michael O’Connell said. It is not right that farmers are now being provided with false expectations only for the payments to again fall short of what is proposed due to renewed oversubscription rates.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Government’s TB Action Plan ‘not fit for purpose’
The IFA has also highlighted another government scheme, the TB Action Plan, as another proposal that is ‘not fit for purpose’.
The Association’s Animal Health Chairman, David Hall, described the fashion in which it was communicated to farmers in mid-April as being “inadequate and deeply confusing for farmers and marts.
“An information leaflet was issued to every herd owner. However, it failed to clearly outline the new testing requirements. Instead, it vaguely referenced changes across different categories of animals, leaving farmers with more questions than answers,” he said.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
