Latest news with #DepartmentofAgricultureFoodandtheMarine
Agriland
5 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
E14 6m Paid to Vets for Tb Testing in 2024
More than €14.6 million euro was paid to vets for bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing in 2024. That's according to the Annual Report 2024 for the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM). TB is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). M. bovis can cause disease in other domestic or wild animals and in humans. Since 1954, Ireland has culled around 2.5 million TB reactor animals in an effort to eradicate TB. At the end of 2024, bovine TB herd incidence increased to 6.04% from 4.94% at the end of 2023. The number of reactors increased by almost 44% to 41,682 in 2024 from 28,901 in 2023. There is considerable regional variation in TB levels across Ireland, which can be seen from the map below. Source: DAFM Annual Report 2025 Ireland's Bovine TB Eradication Programme operates in line with best national and international scientific research and advice, according to DAFM. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. The Bovine TB Eradication Programme is designed to eradicate bovine TB from the cattle herd in Ireland. The programme is necessary because of the high incidence of the disease in the country; the infectivity of the disease; the potential risks to humans; interference with animal productivity; and preservation of export markets, particularly live exports. The main elements of the programme are as follows: Annual testing of the national herd and/or designated categories of animals; Supplementary testing on a risk basis where appropriate (e.g., contiguous herds, special check tests etc.); Primary responsibility for arranging testing and paying for certain tests, with farmers paying for the annual round test and other private tests which account for about 70% of the testing costs; A compensation regime for farmers who suffer a disease outbreak; The payment by farmers of disease levies to help fund the compensation regime; A reactor collection service to ensure rapid removal of infected animals in a manner to avoid the spread of the disease; A programme aimed at preventing TB spread by wildlife (removal & vaccination of badgers). The annual report from DAFM outlines that badgers are vaccinated by veterinary staff with BCG to reduce the transmission of TB between badgers. This has been demonstrated in field trials to reduce the reproduction number (R0) in badgers from 1.2 to 0.5. DAFM has stated that the badger vaccination programme in Ireland has a "crucial role" in reducing the risk of TB in cattle from a badger source. The area of Ireland subject to vaccination stood at 24,874km² at the end of 2024. In 2024, the focus was on continuing to identify as many new setts as possible to ensure good population penetration in badger vaccination areas and to continue to review operations to ensure high badger capture rates. The badger app, which was launched in October 2021, continues to be used by farmers to pin badger activity locations on farmland. There were 740 submissions made on the app in 2024. These locations are then followed up by wildlife officers. Department staff have also engaged with farmers, farming organisations and state bodies to help further identify badger setts and badger activity. In 2024, 8,123 badgers were captured in vaccination areas, of these 3,832 badgers were newly vaccinated. Additionally, 7,267 badgers were removed where exposure to TB in badgers resulted in bovine TB breakdowns on farms. The table below sets out the annual expenditure if the bovine tuberculosis programme. Annual expenditure ('000() % difference 2024-2023 % difference 2024-2022 % difference 2023-2022 2022 2023 2024 Compensation - other €3,641 €5,060 €9,662 91% 165% 39% Vet fees - testing €13,574 €13,262 €14,623 10% 8% -2% Supplies €8,103 €10,629 €8,615 -19% 6% 31% Research €1,131 €832 €1,789 116% 59% -26% On farm market valuation €22,880 €34,748 €54,348 56% 138% 52% Valuer fees €660 €818 €1,181 44% 79% 24% Wildlife €6,407 €7,673 €9,171 20% 43% 20% Other costs €1,052 €1,252 €1,218 -3% 16% 19% Total €57,448 €74,283 €100,616 35% 75% 29% Source: DAFM Annual Report 2025 The On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the main measure for compensating farmers for the removal of TB reactor animals. Supplementary schemes such as Depopulation Grants, Income Supplement and Hardship Grants compensate for income losses and additional feed costs due to restriction. €64 million was spent during 2024 on all compensation elements of the TB Eradication Programme. Receipts from Bovine Diseases Levies increased in 2024 to €8.1 million compared to €7.9 million in 2023.
Agriland
5 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Opinion: What constitutes an Irish tillage farmer must be clearly defined
The recent income projections calculated by Teagasc highlight the need to clearly define what constitutes the term 'an Irish tillage farmer'. The current scenario allows for livestock income from subsidiary livestock enterprises to be included within a tillage enterprise assessment. And herein lies the problem. The projected increase in tillage incomes published by Teagasc can be entirely attributed to the increase in cattle prices recorded over recent months. So what about the 4,000 Irish tillage farmers whose enterprises are centred entirety on the growing of crops? They are now looking at a scenario within which they have no option but to absorb the 10% reduction in international grain prices, recorded over the past year. And it doesn't take Albert Einstein to work out that their incomes will be impacted accordingly. So the question arises: should Teagasc and, for that matter, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) introduce a new and additional tillage definition which recognises those farmers that grow crops exclusively? It is an issue that has much more than abstract farm income assessments linked to it. For example, over the coming weeks the government will be finalising its plans linked to Budget 2026. It would be very easy for ministers to take a peripheral look at the recent Teagasc income assessments, and conclude that the tillage sector is on an upward economic trajectory. In reality, however, very large numbers of farmers who commit to solely growing crops are continuing to make more than significant losses. This is the real story of Irish tillage in 2025. Moreover, it is on the basis of such assessments that decisions to support - or not to support - the tillage sector will be made. And this principle is equally relevant for the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) review as it is for Budget 2026. Ireland's Climate Change Act contains a fundamental commitment to expand the footprint of the tillage sector. The target that has been set is a cropping area of 400,000ha by 2030. However, we are still some 70,000ha short of this projection. And, at the end of the day, it is those farmers committed to the growing of crops only who have the wherewithal to expand the tillage sector. They have the equipment and genuine know how to make this happen in the most efficient way possible. It would make absolute sense for government to recognise this fundamental reality.
