2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) opens for applications
- Published on: 11 February 2025
- Last updated on: 14 February 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, today announced that the application process for the 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Eco-Schemes and the other related schemes has now opened.
Minister Heydon said:
“Over the coming weeks, farmers will be receiving a BISS information pack in the post containing their maps and land details for 2025. This information will assist farmers and their advisors to make their online application."
Continuing, the Minister added:
“The closing date for BISS applications in 2025 is Thursday 15 May 2025. I urge farmers and advisors are urged to avail of the opening of the application process now rather than waiting until nearer the closing date.”
Farmers can apply for all elements of Direct Payments (BISS, Eco-Schemes, Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers, Protein Aid, National Reserve, transferring of entitlements) online. This helps to ensure that the department can process all applications under these schemes as efficiently as possible.
Farmers are reminded to check that they have correctly applied for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC), ECO, and continued participation in Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers, if applicable. Annual payment claims for the Straw Incorporation Measure, ACRES and the Organic Farming Scheme can also be made online along with the Multi-species Sward Measure and the Red Clover Silage Measure.
The Terms and Conditions should be read carefully, in particular if you are a tillage farmer, please see changes around GAEC 7 (Crop Rotation and Diversification in Arable Lands). GAEC 2 (Protecting Peatlands and Wetlands) will be applicable in 2025 and applicants impacted by this GAEC will be notified in due course of the land parcels affected and the obligations applying to those land parcels.
Notes
Over the coming weeks, farmers will be receiving their 2025 BISS packs in the post. The pack contains a cover letter and a statement of lands.
Full Terms and Conditions are available online, or on request as outlined below. A help sheet is also available at: Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme.
Should farmers wish to contact the department in relation to online application they can do so at:
- 049 4368288 in relation to queries on registering for www.agfood.ie – for example queries on lost passwords, how to register
- 057 8674422 in relation to queries on completing the BISS application once registered on www.agfood.ie or to request a paper copy of the Terms and Conditions
As is customary at the opening of the applications window certain groups of applicants will not be able to apply. This year, some ACRES applicants will not be able to apply for the first few weeks to ensure that the farmer and advisor have access to all relevant information when submitting the BISS application. This helps to ensure that the department can process all applications under these schemes as efficiently as possible. These restrictions on applications will lift with ample time to allow all applications to be made before the closing date.