Opt-In to the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme Now!
Date published:
Farmers have been urged to opt into the latest phase of the Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme.
The BCR Scheme is a key 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.
DAERA Minister Muir said: “I encourage all farm businesses who have yet to opt in to the Scheme to do so by 31 December, to secure payment for animals eligible in 2025. My Department, stands ready to provide information and support about the scheme or the opt in process.
“The Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme is a vital part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme supporting farm businesses to lower the carbon footprint of their herds and achieve improved productivity,” he added.
Farm businesses, or their Authorised Persons, can opt into the scheme online now via the DAERA website. 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 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 & Environmental Schemes.
Full details of the BCR Scheme, including business and animal eligibility rules, are available from the DAERA website.
Notes to editors:
- The BCR Scheme was implemented in 2024, over a four-year period to incentivise a progressive reduction in the maximum age at slaughter each year. The maximum target age at slaughter for clean beef cattle for 2025 is 28 months; this will reduce to 27 months for 2026. The scheme will provide the farmer with funding of £75 for each eligible animal slaughtered.
- Payments are capped at a maximum of 352,000 animals in NI per scheme year.
- Farmers can contact Payment Delivery Branch via e-mail at: agriculturalandenvironmentalschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk. They can also call Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00pm on 0300 200 7848, for information and support on how to opt in.
- 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, Beef Carbon Reduction permissions will also be given.
- 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.
- Farmers can also opt in to receive emails and SMS text messages to keep up to date with scheme news and reminders on key dates. To do so, farmers should update their preferences on the ‘Personal Details’ page of their DAERA Online Services account, ensuring their email and mobile are up to date. DAERA online services can be accessed here.
- Follow DAERA on X 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 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.