Northern Ireland introduced its first scheme under a new agriculture policy: the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme (BCRS), in January 2024. The BCRS aims to help the beef sector reduce greenhouse gas emissions while boosting efficiency. This scheme is part of Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit agriculture strategy, which includes other initiatives like the Suckler Cow Scheme in 2025 and future programs like the Farm Sustainability Payment and Farming with Nature Scheme.
Key points of the BCRS:
Slaughter age:
In 2024, farmers must slaughter prime cattle at 30 months or younger to qualify for BCRS payments. Over the next few years, the maximum slaughter age will gradually decrease:
|
Year |
Reduction in maximum slaughter age |
|
2025 |
<28 months |
|
2026 |
<27 months |
|
2027 |
<26 months |
Eligibility criteria:
- Eligible cattle must be born and registered in Northern Ireland.
- Only beef cattle used for human consumption will qualify, excluding animals used for breeding.
- Cattle sent outside Northern Ireland for direct slaughter can still be eligible.
Payments:
Payments started at £20 per animal in January 2024 and increased to £75 per animal in April. To receive a payment, farmers must have kept the animal in their herd for at least 60 of the last 100 days before slaughter.
No paperwork required:
Farmers don’t need to complete any additional paperwork. DAERA will track eligible cattle using the NIFAIS system and make payments in Spring 2025.
Opting-in to the scheme:
Farmers must opt-in online to participate in the BCRS. Once you’ve opted in, you’ll receive payments each year, as long as you meet the criteria.
Preparing for the BCRS
With the new BCRS in place, farmers need to keep a closer eye on their cattle’s age and performance. Some breeds, particularly native and traditional ones, may find it challenging to meet the age targets as they decrease over time. However, the scheme presents a valuable opportunity to improve efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of Northern Ireland’s beef sector.
How Herdwatch can help:
Herdwatch can simplify managing the BCRS requirements. By setting up Smart Lists within the app, you can track your animals’ ages and monitor their performance. This allows you to adjust feed rations to ensure cattle reach the required weight before the set age limits, helping you meet the scheme’s criteria and maximise your payments.
If buying in cattle to finish, farmers can also set up Smart Lists to identify what animals have been on the farm over 60 days, to ensure you meet the payment criteria.
By embracing the BCRS, Northern Ireland’s beef farmers can contribute to a more sustainable future while securing financial support for their efforts.