New Suckler Cow Scheme Animal Information Screens Available Now
Date published:
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.
Minister Muir said: “The Suckler Cow Scheme plays an important role in supporting our farm businesses contribute to the achievement of our environmental and climate change goals as well as helping improve overall farm efficiency. The addition of the animal information screens will provide farm businesses with vital information to improve their breeding management practices. I encourage all farm businesses who opt into the Scheme to make full use of the information on the portal.”
Suckler Cow Scheme animal information screens are available from the DAERA website.
Eligible farm businesses must opt into the Scheme online to receive payment and can do so now via the DAERA website. DAERA has streamlined the opt-in process, requiring only the completion of a tick-box.
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.
Full details of the Suckler Cow Scheme, including business and animal eligibility rules, are available on the DAERA website.
Notes to editors:
- 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.
- The Advisory Service can be contacted Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00pm on 0300 200 7848 for support and guidance on how to opt in and ask to speak to someone about the Suckler Cow Scheme, or alternatively you can email: agriculturalandenvironmentalschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk
- An agent or trusted person may 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 Scheme permissions will also be given.
- Communications regarding the opt-in status of the scheme are sent through DAERA Messaging to farm businesses and their authorised person (if applicable). Notifications of new DAERA messages will be emailed to the registered account holder(s). Farmers are encouraged to ensure their email address on record is up to date and to regularly check for communications from DAERA Area-based Schemes.
- To access DAERA Messaging for current and future communications, farm business members must register for a DAERA Online Account by registering first for NI Direct or Government Gateway. Assistance for registration is available from DAERA by calling 0300 200 7840.
- Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.