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DAFM confirms rollout of backdated TB balancing payments
DAFM confirms rollout of backdated TB balancing payments

Agriland

time01-05-2025

  • Business
  • Agriland

DAFM confirms rollout of backdated TB balancing payments

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed to Agriland that bovine tuberculosis (TB) Income Supplement balancing payments have started to be issued to herd owners. The payments run started last month and all payments due to farmers are expected to be processed and issued within in the next few weeks. A spokesperson for DAFM told Agriland today (Thursday, May 1) that herd owners can expect to receive outstanding payments shortly. 'It is expected to be a number of weeks before all payments are processed and issued. 'Farmers will find details of their payments on the financial self service section of AgFood – the payment is titled Financial Working Group Income Supplement Balancing Payment,' the department has detailed. Last week, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association's (ICSA) animal health and welfare chair, John Barron welcomed the issuing of top-up income supplement payments to farmers affected by TB who were paid at the old rate. The issue has been ongoing since February 2023 when an increase in compensation rates for farmers whose herds go down with bovine tuberculosis (TB) was agreed. It was outlined at the time that the owners of herds that went down with TB before February 29, 2024, continued to receive the old rate of payment under the TB income supplement scheme. TB In April 2025 DAFM had set out the conditions to Agriland in relation to payments. It said: 'Considering the complexity of the changes to the scheme, the herds who were receiving the old rates while the necessary IT development work was being carried out, will receive balancing payments when they exit restriction.' According to the DAFM, the reason for this was 'to ensure that they receive accurate payments'. A further update from the department to Agriland in August 2024 detailed that the agreed changes to the Depopulation Grant and Hardship Grant schemes went live on December 7, 2023. 'The agreed changes to the income supplement scheme went live on February 29, 2024 for herds entering breakdown from that date onwards. 'The department is currently working on the necessary IT work to ensure any balancing payments owed to farmers are calculated and issued as soon as possible,' DAFM subsequently stated. The rates of TB compensation according to DAFM are as follows: Income supplement monthly rates: Dairy (old rate €55) – new rate of €100 for first five months after calving and €65 for six to 10 months after calving; Suckler (old rate €38.09) – new rate of €52 for first seven months after calving and €40 for eight to 12 months after calving; Other (old rate €25.39) – new rate of €30. Depopulation grant: Dairy (old rate €220) – new rate of €280; Suckler (old rate €152.36) – new rate of €180; Other (old rate €76.16) – new rate of €120. Hardship grant monthly rates: Suckler (old rate €38) – new rate €50; Dairy/other (old rate €25) – new rate €30. There are a number of farmers who have been waiting on the roll-out of these payments since the increase in compensation rates for farmers whose herds go down with TB was agreed and the confirmation of these payments issuing will be welcomed by farm organisations.

ICSA: ‘Unacceptable TB payment delays must never be repeated'
ICSA: ‘Unacceptable TB payment delays must never be repeated'

Agriland

time24-04-2025

  • Business
  • Agriland

ICSA: ‘Unacceptable TB payment delays must never be repeated'

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association's (ICSA) animal health and welfare chair, John Barron has welcomed the issuing of top-up income supplement payments to farmers affected by TB who were paid at the wrong rate. However, according to Barron, the 'unacceptable' delays in the payments must 'never be repeated'. Barron said: 'These payments are long overdue, and it is only right that farmers who were short-changed due to administrative and IT delays are finally receiving the money they are owed. 'This should not have taken so long. These are farmers who have been under serious financial strain due to TB restrictions, and they have been waiting more than two years to be paid at the correct rate.' The top-up payments relate to income supplement claims made between February 1, 2023 and the the end of February 2024. According to the ICSA, during this time payments continued to be issued at 'outdated rates', despite higher rates having been agreed at the TB forum. The enhanced rates are currently being paid only to farmers who have entered a breakdown since February 29, 2024. The ICSA claims the new rates. agreed over two years ago, introduced increases across all categories of income supplements: Dairy: From €55/month to €100 for the first five months post-calving, and €65 for months 6-10. Suckler: From €38.09/month to €52 for the first seven months post-calving, and €40 for months 8-12. Other stock: From €25.39/month to €30. ICSA Barron said: 'While it is positive to see this issue finally being resolved, the delay highlights a worrying lack of urgency in delivering on commitments made to farmers. 'In addition, with inflation continuing to erode the real value of these payments, we believe the time has come for a further full review of these rates.' Balancing payments are now being issued to affected farmers, and details can be found in the Financial Self-Service (FSS) portal on AgFood under the title 'Financial Working Group Income Supplement Balancing Payment'. The ICSA claims the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has indicated that it will take a number of weeks to process all payments.

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