Charlie McConalogue, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has announced the opening of applications for the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 (PEPS2) as of 13 June, 2022.
In announcing the scheme, Minister McConalogue said: “As I have consistently stated, our pig farmers are remarkably resilient, but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges they are facing at present. Irish pig farmers, alongside others across the EU, are currently facing a combination of low prices and extraordinarily high input costs. This is why I have targeted €13 million of the €15.8 million EU exceptional aid allocation to support the viability of this important sector. The scheme will assist pig farmers to make the necessary adjustment to the new market situation and support them as much as possible through this period of major disruption.”
Minister of State Martin Heydon, who chairs the Pig Roundtable, added: “This scheme is part of a package of measures to support the sector, including the finance instruments co-funded by my department through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality-assured Irish pig meat in the domestic and export markets, and Teagasc dedicated, ongoing advisory supports.”
This scheme is open to commercial pig farmers who have produced more than 200 pigs in the period 1 January, 2021 to 31 December, 2021 inclusive, who are able to commit to the conditionality. Payment to each successful applicant will depend on the number of pigs slaughtered, exported or sold in the nominated herd during the reference period. A maximum pay rate of €100,000 will apply.
The closing date for applications is 11 July, 2022.