Press release
Minister McConalogue announces €10 million payments to tillage farmers
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today announced that payments have commenced under the 2022 Protein Aid Scheme, Protein/Cereal Mix Scheme and the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).
Minister McConalogue stated:
“I am delighted to confirm these important payments are now issuing to tillage farmers. Under SIM, over €10.6 million will be paid to approximately 2,400 tillage farmers. This is an increase from 1,800 tillage farmers paid almost €8 million at this stage in 2022. Based on its success since its introduction, I have decided to include the Straw Incorporation Measure is included in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, with a commitment to run an annual scheme for the next five years in 2023-2027. This clearly underlines mine and the government’s long-term commitment to the tillage sector in Ireland.”
The Minister added:
“I am also happy to announce that payments of over €3.2 million have commenced under the Protein Aid supports to some 1,000 farmers. In March 2022, arising from the situation in Ukraine, I guaranteed a payment of €300 per hectare for the protein crops. I also put in place the Protein/Cereal Mix Crop Scheme, to support farmers growing mixed crops.”
The Minister concluded:
“Both schemes have proven to be really popular with tillage farmers in 2022, while also contributing to the long-term sustainability of the tillage sector. In 2023, I have provided a €10 million budget for the Straw Incorporation Measure and I have more than doubled the annual budget for Protein Aid from €3 million to €7 million under the CAP Strategic Plan.”
Payments will be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days.
The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) is a support Measure for tillage farmers under Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 (Agri-environment-climate), as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme.
This Measure is funded under the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) fund.
The purpose of the Measure is to encourage tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from cereal and oilseed crops. This will sequester carbon in tillage soils, thereby reducing GHG emissions. The incorporation of straw will also have positive impact on soil biology and soil workability. This will further improve the environmental sustainability of the tillage sector.
Farmers who committed to chopping and incorporating straw from cereal crops (wheat, oats, barley and rye) will receive €250 per hectare, with oilseeds being paid at €150 per hectare.
The Protein Aid Scheme is a voluntary coupled support scheme funded by the EU under Article 52 of EU regulation 1307/2013. Introduced in 2015 to provide support for the growing of protein crops to counter act the dependence on imported protein for use in animal feeds.
Supports for protein crops include 3 elements:
1. The EU funded Protein Aid Scheme (€2.8 million)
2. The nationally funded element of the Protein Aid Scheme (€284,000)
3. The nationally funded Protein/Cereal Mix Crop Scheme (€112,000)
A rate of €300/hectare was paid for beans, peas and lupins under the EU Protein Aid Scheme (€270/hectare under Protein aid and €30/hectare under the national funded Protein Aid. The Protein/Cereal Mix crop was paid €150 per hectare.