Extra funding needed for TB programme

The hardship grant for farmers whose herds are impacted by TB must reflect the higher costs of feed, insists a senior ICSA figure.

The Association's Animal Health and Welfare chairman, Hugh Farrell vowed to continue fighting for a higher level of payment under the hardship grant and income supplement payment of the TB Programme.

“ICSA wants to see the payments reflect the significant cost of inflation in livestock input and output prices,” explained the from Ballyconnell farmer. “You cannot feed cattle for the same cost in 2022 as you could in 2020. The rate of €250 per month for the hardship grant for an entire herd wouldn’t even buy five large bales of straw and no longer covers the cost of a ton of meal.”

Mr Farrell also outlined that the ICSA are lobbying the Department to ensure that TB valuations are “corrected” to cover high value animals.

“Valuation ceilings do not reflect what fancy breeding heifers or high value cows are worth and the same applies to breeding bulls. All we are looking for is fairness for farmers.”

These issues were discussed at last week’s TB Finance Committee meeting, attended by Mr Farrell.

According to Mr Farrell, the Department is being “totally unrealistic” if the cost of the TB programme is reduced during a period when inflation is surging.

“Even if there was no inflation, the increased cost of the programme was inevitable due to the substantial increase in dairy cow numbers. But the reality now is that the massive increase in input costs on everything from fertiliser to feed to fuel means that there is no possible way to avoid more costs to the TB Programme.

“The government cannot blame farmers for this – inflation is very much linked to central bank decisions made at EU and global level, partly linked to massive global spending on another infectious disease. One thing is clear - you can’t reduce or eradicate a disease without massive public expenditure, and this must be factored into decisions around TB.”