Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1031. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the implementation of the straw chopping scheme for tillage farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I secured an additional allocation of €10m in Budget 2021 for the implementation of the new Straw Incorporation Measure. This is an agri-environmental initiative that is intended to encourage tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating the straw from eligible crops back into the soil. It has been introduced as part of the suite of measures in place to ensure continued support to the tillage sector during the transition period leading up to the new Common Agricultural Policy programming period.

Officials from my Department are currently in discussions with the European Commission to finalise the details of the measure. The Department has also been consulting with stakeholders in this regard. Once agreement with the European Commission has been finalised, full details of the measure will be published.