Farming: Tirlán launches €5 million TB support programme for milk suppliers
Tirlán has launched a TB Support Programme to assist farmers impacted by an outbreak of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in their herds.
Tirlán, the farmer-owned Co-operative, has launched a TB Support Programme to assist its milk suppliers who are impacted by an outbreak of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in their herds.
Tirlán has put in place a €5 million fund to support the programme, which will offer an optional advance on future milk payments of €750 per cow to milk suppliers that lose over 5% of their herd to a TB outbreak.
This pre-payment will be available for herds impacted in 2025 and 2026 and will be deducted from actual milk payments to the supplier in year two and year three after drawdown.
In the case of new entrants to dairy farming, the programme will be available regardless of the number of animals impacted.
Tirlán Chairperson John Murphy said that Bovine TB outbreaks create significant financial and emotional stress for affected farm families.
“Given the challenges being experienced by a significant number of our farmers, the Board felt that it was appropriate for Tirlán to offer immediate and practical support to our impacted farm families.
"This voluntary programme will provide interest-free cashflow support to those adversely affected by a TB outbreak and will supplement payments available from the State-funded Bovine TB Eradication Scheme.
"Once an outbreak is confirmed, we want our farmers to know that Tirlán will support them through the challenge,” he added.
Seán Molloy, Tirlán Chief Executive Officer, said that there has been an increase nationally in the number of herds affected by TB and Tirlán is taking a proactive approach to the challenge.
“In addition to our TB Support Programme, we will engage with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and other stakeholders to optimise the effectiveness of the TB Eradication Programme. Following feedback from members of our Council, we will also be offering technical support and advice to our farmers to help reduce the risk of a TB outbreak on their farm.”
The TB Support Programme will open for applications in late March. The programme is open to herds with a TB-breakdown between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2026, in cases where 5% or more of their cows are reactors. The 5% threshold will be calculated on the basis of total dairy cows and in-calf heifers. The 5% threshold will not apply to New Entrants to milk production, who are eligible to apply to the programme regardless of the proportion of their herd impacted.
