The Ulster Farmers’ Union is encouraging members to opt into the latest phase of the Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme.
The BCR Scheme is part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme and it encourages farm businesses to reduce the age at slaughter of clean beef animals to improve efficiency and reduce livestock greenhouse gas emissions.
During 2024, over 8,000 farm businesses across Northern Ireland received approximately £19.8 million funding, to boost environmental sustainability and enhance productivity.
Farm businesses or their authorised persons, can opt into the scheme online now via the DAERA website by clicking here.
- The opt in process is quick and simple requiring only a tick box to be completed once the applicant has logged in.
- Once opted in, businesses will receive a BCR payment each year thereafter, provided eligibility requirements are met.
- Businesses only need to opt in once for BCR, those businesses already opted into the scheme during 2024 do not have to opt in again.
- Once opted in, farm businesses (and their authorised persons) can check the Beef Sustainability portal to view the status of their cattle to confirm if a slaughtered animal will be eligible for payment. They can also check if live cattle are approaching the maximum age of slaughter in that scheme year.
Farmers should be reassured that opting in does not incur penalties if eligibility conditions are not met or if there are no eligible animals in a given year. Those who sold eligible cattle through a livestock market but kept the cattle for 60 days during the 100 days prior to slaughter may also be eligible for payment and should opt in.
Communications about the scheme status are delivered through DAERA messaging to farm businesses and their authorised persons. Please ensure your email address is up to date and check regularly for communications from DAERA Agricultural and Environmental Schemes.
Full details of the BCR Scheme, including business and animal eligibility rules, can be viewed by clicking here.
