DAERA Minister reminded farm businesses that
the Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme remains open for opt-ins,
with new animal information screens now available.
Failure to opt in by 31 December 2024 will result in farmers
missing out on payment for eligible animals slaughtered in 2024.
The BCR Scheme, which was introduced by the Department at the
start of the year, is a new payment support scheme for beef
farmers in Northern Ireland. It encourages farm businesses to
reduce the slaughter age of clean finished beef cattle to improve
the efficiency of the local beef sector and reduce livestock
greenhouse gas emissions.
There has been a new system update to the BCR portal to help farm
businesses keep track of their animal data. Farm businesses and
Authorised Persons who have opted in can now check the portal to
view the status of their cattle to confirm if the slaughtered
animal will be eligible for payment. It also allows farm
businesses to check if live cattle are approaching the maximum
age of slaughter in that scheme year.
Minister Muir said: “The BCR Scheme is a significant milestone in
supporting our farming sector in its move towards greater
environmental sustainability and is a key lever in helping the
agriculture sector meet the obligations of the Climate Change
Act.
“I would encourage farmers to opt in for this scheme and engage
with the Department on how best to adapt their on-farm practices
to meet the targets set and contribute to a more environmentally
sustainable and productive sector. The new animal information
screens through the system update will be a useful tool to help
farm businesses achieve this.”
Eligible farm businesses must opt into the scheme online to
receive payment and can do so now. DAERA has
made the opt-in process as quick and simple as possible. It
requires a tick-box to be completed.
Farm businesses only need to opt in once for BCR from 2024. If
they do not opt in, they will not get paid for eligible cattle
slaughtered in 2024. If the business has opted in, they will
receive a BCR payment each year thereafter, provided they meet
the eligibility requirements in each year.
Businesses must have claimed and be eligible for Basic Payment
Scheme in 2024, or its replacement in future years, to avail of
the BCR Scheme in that particular year. If farm businesses opt in
and do not have any eligible animals in that scheme year, no
penalties will apply.
Communications of the opt-in status of this scheme are delivered
through DAERA Messaging to farm businesses and their Authorised
Person (if applicable). Notification of new DAERA messages
will be sent to the DAERA registered account holder(s) via
e-mail. Farmers are encouraged to ensure the e-mail address held
for them is up to date and to check their e-mails regularly for
communications from DAERA Area-based Schemes.
Full details of the BCR
Scheme, including business and animal eligibility rules.
Notes to editors:
- The BCR Scheme is being implemented initially over a
four-year period and will incentivise a progressive reduction in
the age at slaughter each year. Payments of £20, £40 and £60 will
be made for eligible animals slaughtered in January, February and
March of this year respectively. From 1 April 2024 the scheme
will provide the farmer with funding of £75 for each eligible
animal slaughtered.
- Payments are capped at a maximum of 352,000 animals in NI per
scheme year.
