Minister Muir announces opening of the Suckler Cow Scheme from 1 April 2025
Date published:
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir has announced that the new Suckler Cow Scheme will commence on 1 April 2025, with the online Scheme opt-in also being available from that date.
The Scheme forms part of the Beef Sustainability Package within the Sustainable Agriculture Programme. This Package will deliver 25% of the greenhouse gas reductions from agriculture by 2027, if the uptake levels and targets within the Scheme are met.
It also aims to encourage farm businesses to improve breeding management practices to increase the percentage of eligible calving events that achieve a reduced age at first calving and a reduced calving interval over a four-year phased implementation period.
The phased implementation period of the Scheme includes a maximum age at first calving for suckler heifers of 34 months, reducing to 29 months in Year 4. The maximum calving interval in Year 1 will be 415 days, reducing to 385 days in Year 4.
Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to announce the commencement of the Suckler Cow Scheme and the opening of the online opt-in.
“This Scheme plays an important role in supporting our farm businesses on a journey of change ensuring both environmental and economic sustainability and is vital as we continue our journey to net zero.
“I would encourage farm businesses to avail of this opportunity and engage with the Department on how best to adapt their on-farm practices to meet the targets set for the Scheme."
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will provide focused knowledge transfer programmes to assist farm businesses to achieve the husbandry standards necessary to meet the Scheme conditions and targets.
To be eligible farm businesses must have claimed and be eligible for the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment in 2025 and the Farm Sustainability Payment from 2026 onwards. A payment rate of £100 will be made for each eligible calving event and a Northern Ireland quantitative limit of 222,000 calving events will apply in each Scheme year.
Eligible farm businesses must opt in to the Suckler Cow Scheme to receive payment and can do so from 1 April 2025 via the DAERA website. Farm businesses can opt in at any time. However, a business must have opted in between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 to receive payment for Scheme year 1. If farm businesses opt in and do not have any eligible calving events in that Scheme year, no penalties will apply.
A farm business only needs to opt in once for the Scheme from 2025. If a farm business has opted in, it will receive a payment for eligible calving events each year thereafter, provided all eligibility criteria have been met in that Scheme year.
Full details of the Scheme, including farm business, animal and calving event eligibility criteria are available to view on the DAERA website.
A video providing step by step instructions on opt-in is available on the DAERA website.
If farmers require further help or guidance with an application, they should call DAERA’s Advisory Service helpline on 0300 200 7848 or e-mail: areabasedschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk
Notifications regarding opt-in and payments will issue by DAERA messaging only. To receive notifications by e-mail and view payment details online, farm businesses, must register with either Northern Ireland Identity Assurance (NIDA) or Government Gateway for a DAERA online account. Registration for a DAERA online account can be completed on the DAERA website or call 0300 200 7848 for support to get registered.
Notes to editors:
- The Suckler Cow Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 are an important step in the roll out of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme.
- The overall aim of the Programme is to transition to a more sustainable farming sector by seeking to implement policies and strategies that benefit our climate and environment while supporting our economically and socially significant agri-food sector. DAERA has worked extensively with stakeholders, through the Agricultural Policy Stakeholder Group, in the design of the Programme.
- Payments are capped at a maximum of 222,000 calving events per Scheme year.
- Applicants to the Suckler Cow Scheme will receive confirmation from DAERA that their opt-in is complete via DAERA messaging.
- Opting into the Suckler Cow Scheme uses the same online portal that is available for the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme.
- More information on the Suckler Cow Scheme is available from the DAERA website. The SC Scheme is part of the new Sustainable Agriculture Programme, more details on this can be found on the DAERA website.
- The Advisory Service can be contacted Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00pm on 0300 200 7848, for help and guidance on how to opt-in. Farmers can also email areabasedschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk.
- An agent or trusted person can be nominated by farmers to complete the application on their behalf. Forms to nominate an authorised person can be downloaded from the DAERA website. For nominated persons that have Single Application permissions, Suckler Cow permissions will also be given.
- This is a digital only Scheme. Customers are advised that anyone in the farm business who has a DAERA online account and nominated agents can log in to view details of payment.
- Follow DAERA on X formerly Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800 hrs and 0800 hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.