County Galway has the highest number of participants in the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot scheme.
The county has 2,070 applicants to the one-year pilot which is designed to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance.
County Mayo has a total of 1,762 participants on the scheme and Clare has 1,483.
Minister Ciaran Cannon welcomed the confirmation of these figures.
“I believe this high level of interest in the scheme indicates recognition of the wide-ranging benefits of the scheme to the county’s suckler sector,” said the Fine Gael TD.
“Minister Creed’s Department is also examining all appropriate measures to support the different agrifood sectors, including the suckler sector, in preparation for the next iteration of the CAP, and through the next Agri Food strategy to 2030.
“This includes opening new opportunities for the sale of Irish beef on international markets and, in recent years, Irish beef has gained access to the US, Japanese, Chinese and other markets with additional resources allotted to Bord Bia to promote beef in new and more traditional markets,” added Minister Cannon.
