New Suckler Cow Scheme animal information screens available now

New Suckler Cow Scheme animal information screens, designed to assist farm businesses in better managing their breeding practices, have been added to the Beef Sustainability Package Portal.

Introduced by the Department in April this year as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme, the Suckler Cow Scheme encourages farm businesses to adopt improved breeding management practices in suckler cow production to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, leading to improved environmental sustainability and enhanced overall productivity.

From today, farm businesses and authorised persons who have opted into the scheme, can check the portal to view their calving event information and check if they will be eligible for payment.

Farm businesses must opt in by 31 March 2026 to receive payments for eligible births in the 2025 Scheme year. Once opted in, businesses will continue to receive Suckler Cow Scheme payments each subsequent year for the duration of the Scheme, provided they meet the eligibility requirements annually.

To avail of the Suckler Cow Scheme in any given year, businesses must have claimed and be eligible for the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment in 2025 or Farm Sustainability Payment from 2026 onwards. No penalties will apply if farm businesses opt in but do not have any eligible animals in that Scheme year.

The Suckler Cow Scheme is being implemented over a four-year period and will incentivise a progressive reduction in the age at first calving of heifers and the calving interval of suckler cows each year. Payments of £100 will be made for each eligible calving event.

Payments are capped at 222,000 calving events in NI per Scheme year.

An agent or trusted person may be nominated by farmers to complete the application on their behalf.