merrion street

Michael Creed TD Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine today announced the opening of a targeted crop loss support measure to assist growers most affected by the wet weather harvest conditions of September 2016.

Speaking at the launch of the measure the Minister said “While many farmers experienced difficult challenges last year, this was particularly the case for a number of cereal farmers who experienced an exceptionally difficult harvest and resulting yield losses for certain spring crops. The Minister added that ‘this is a very important sector to the agricultural economy, making a vital contribution to both the food and feedstuffs sector. I have always stated that there was a will to support these farmers, the challenge was to find a way that ensured support was focused and targeted at those most impacted whilst also ensuring prudent expenditure of public finances. I am pleased that a way has now been found – through positive dialogue and engagement. I am satisfied that the measure of a €1.5 million maximum scheme, addresses both of these requirements.

This measure will provide a financial contribution towards the cost of spring cereals crop losses in excess of 30% by yield, experienced by growers. Minister Creed confirmed that application forms including details on eligibility for the Crop Loss Support Measure will be available on his Department’s website from today (Wednesday 26th July) at the following link: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/
and from the Department’s local office network from the same date. Closing date for applications will be Friday 25th August.

Minister Creed reaffirmed his commitment to the sector including having provided national funding to allow the “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme” to be extended to tillage farmers. The latest data available from the SBCI, on the drawdown to the end of June indicates total loans of €7.739 million have been provided to the tillage sector (in line with the relative size of the sector).
The loan scheme provides farmers with a low cost, flexible source of working capital and will allow farmers to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, ensuring the on-going financial sustainability of viable farming enterprises.
Additionally Minister Creed recently announced the Tillage Investment Scheme under TAMS II which opened for online applications on the 8 March 2017. The specific areas of investment include Minimum Disturbance Tillage Equipment, Sprayers, Rain Water Harvesting, Grain Storage and Grain dryers. This Tillage Scheme is the latest of the Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Scheme is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The closing date for applications under the first tranche of the new scheme was Friday 30 June 2017. The second tranche is currently open. There was a significant level of interest in investments under this measure with a total number of 490 applications received in the first tranche.
The many measures available under GLAS for tillage farmers including Wild Bird Cover, Green Cover etc. have also meant that uptake by Tillage farmers of the GLAS scheme has been encouraging.
In conclusion, Minister Creed said “This new support measure, together with the Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme I introduced last autumn and also the current Tillage investment scheme under TAMS II will, when taken together, provide significant support for this essential sector and underlines my on-going support to securing its future.”