Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

491. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on increasing the funding for the straw incorporation measure by 50% and increasing the acreage that can be applied for by an individual farmer from the current 40 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21333/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, I introduced the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) in 2021 as a pilot measure. The purpose of the scheme is to chop straw and incorporate it into the soil, thereby improving soil organic matter with which a lot of additional environmental and climate change benefits are associated. These include increased carbon storing potential, recycling nutrients to tillage soils, increased soil workability, increased water holding capacity and soil microbial activity.

The Straw Incorporation Measure, since its introduction in 2021, has proved to be very successful and popular with farmers. Given the success of the measure, I secured its inclusion in Ireland’s 2023 – 2027 CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The indicative annual financial allocation for this measure in the CSP is €10 million and is payable on the chopping and incorporation of straw between 5 hectares up to a maximum of 40 hectares. The rate of payment is €250 per hectare for barley, wheat, oats and rye and €150 per hectare for oilseed rape.

In 2022 just over €11.1 million was paid out to 2,527 farmers on an area of approximately 50,400 hectares.

I will keep the SIM scheme under review, however, the final annual allocation for the scheme is subject to the national budgetary process and uptake by farmers.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

492. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase to €200,000 the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme (TAMS 3) investment ceiling from the current €90,000 to reflect the current cost of equipment for tillage farmers; if he will expand the types of eligible equipment/structures, including combine harvester; if he will request teagasc tillage equipment specialists to provide a report on types of eligible equipment/structures under TAMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21334/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for 5 years with a budget of €370m. The Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS), due to open this month, will have a wide range of tillage investments available for grant aid at a rate of 40%. Eligible applicants can also avail of grant aid for the tillage investments available in TCIS in the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme and Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme at a rate of 60% with a €90,000 ceiling.

The Lower Emissions Slurry Spreading Scheme has a ring-fenced ceiling of €40,000 with a 60% grant rate. It is my view that the €90,000 ceiling, which I increased from the previous level of €80,000, strikes the right balance between providing an attractive level of grant aid while also ensuring that as many farmers as possible can access the scheme funding.

The list of eligible investments for the Tillage scheme under TAMs was carefully considered and discussed with external experts in Teagasc. We remain in regular contact with all stakeholders and with Teagasc on the list but for mow I have no plans to amend the list. My priority is to see the scheme launched and fully operational in its first year and accessible to as many interested farmers as possible.