Minister Heydon announces all applicants accepted into the Straw Incorporation Measure
- Published on: 17 June 2025
- Last updated on: 17 June 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today announced that all applicants for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) have been accepted into the scheme for 2025.
Minister Heydon commented:
“The Straw Incorporation Measure has proven to be a very popular scheme with tillage farmers again in 2025. To ensure all farmers who have applied can be paid, I have made certain that the necessary funding is in place.
“Over 66,000 hectares of cereals and oilseed rape straw has been submitted for chopping and incorporating in 2025. This scheme along with giving tillage farmers an economic boost is also ensuring an increase in carbon sequestration and shows the commitment of Irish farmers to the climate and environment.”
Concluding, Minister Heydon said :
“While farmers will receive their acceptance letters for SIM in the coming weeks, it is possible for farmers to withdraw from the scheme in certain circumstances, for example where straw is required for livestock feeding. Therefore, I would encourage livestock and tillage farmers to engage fully in the coming weeks to ensure that the needs of both sectors are met.”
Farmers wishing to contact the department regarding their Straw Incorporation payment, can ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057-8674422 or by email to Tillage@agriculture.gov.ie
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) is a scheme under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 - 2027.
The scheme is designed to provide financial support for tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from cereal and oilseed rape crops.
The rate of payment will be €250 per hectare for Oats, Wheat, Rye and Barley and €150 for Oilseed Rape, with a minimum claim of 5 hectares and maximum claim of 40 hectares.
3,057 applications have been received to date.
To note that the figures below represent the areas applied for under SIM and these will be higher than the final payable areas. Applicants can apply for greater than 40 hectares under SIM, but payment is maxed at 40 hectares.
| Crop | Area (Ha) |
| Winter wheat | 13,677.12 |
| Winter barley | 3,676.18 |
| Winter oats | 10,494.52 |
| Spring wheat | 2,010.15 |
| Spring barley | 16,990.06 |
| Spring oats | 9,937.31 |
| Rye | 528.86 |
| Winter oilseed rape | 8,777.75 |
| Spring oilseed rape | 390.22 |
Any applicants wishing to withdraw from the Straw Incorporation Measure or reduce their area may do so in duly justified cases if the applicant has not been notified of an issue with their application or notified of an inspection.
Farmers can ring the Helpdesk at 057-8674422. Farmers can also submit any queries they may have online via www.agfood.ie or by email to Tillage@agriculture.gov.ie