New 60% Grant-aid for Nutrient Storage Investments
Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) provide grants to farmers to construct or improve specified types of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. TAMS 3 opened in February 2023, and as of last week, 3,094 applications have been approved. Sean Mannion tells us more.
The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine proposes a Nutrient Storage Investment Scheme, which would offer 60% grant aid with a separate TAMS 3 funding ceiling of €90,000, available in spring 2025. It is expected that the first application tranche will close in March or April, subject to European Commission approval. This separate ceiling would allow farmers who have already benefitted from other TAMS 3 schemes to reapply under the new scheme.
In most cases, an agricultural consultant and draughtsperson will complete your TAMS 3 application. However, it’s important to understand the procedures and protocols involved. Farmers applying should familiarize themselves with the TAMS 3 terms and conditions and the relevant investment specifications.
Planning Permission
For the existing Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme, either planning permission or a declaration of exemption, along with stamped drawings from the relevant County Council, is required for slurry storage tanks. The Department will not consider an application valid unless it includes documentary evidence of full planning permission (or a revised planning grant where required) or a declaration of exemption issued by the Local Authority for the proposed works.
Typically, the local planning authority issues an initial decision on a planning application within eight weeks, and full planning permission is generally granted four weeks after that (12 weeks total). However, if the local authority requests additional information or if a decision is appealed, the process may take longer. A Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) is also required as part of the planning application, detailing proposed stock numbers, spread lands for organic manures, silage storage, dairy washings storage, and application rates for organic manures.
Nutrient Storage Compliance
Farmers applying for TAMS 3 sheds, tanks, or other items must comply with farm waste and nutrient storage requirements before applying. They must provide evidence of compliance with Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 113/2022. Applicants found non-compliant are ineligible for grant aid for Farm Nutrient Storage investments and will be reported to the Department’s Cross Compliance Section, which may result in penalties or sanctions. For farmers in the west, this typically means maintaining sufficient nutrient storage for an 18-week period. Required storage is determined by the previous winter’s livestock profile, nutrient storage levels, and the area declared on the BISS application.
Tank Size
Required tank size depends on the existing nutrient storage capacity on the farm, the planned livestock numbers, and the desired storage period, with a minimum of 18 weeks for farms in the west. Slurry storage volume is calculated based on weekly excretion rates in m³ (1 m³ = 220 gallons) as follows:
- Dairy cow: 0.33 m³
- Suckler cow: 0.29 m³
- Cattle >2 years: 0.26 m³
- Cattle (18–24 months): 0.26 m³
- Cattle (6–18 months): 0.15 m³
- Cattle (0–6 months): 0.08 m³
For example, a typical 4-bay slurry tank (22.2m x 4.1m x 2.4m) can provide an 18-week storage capacity for 38 suckler cows or 42 cattle aged 18–24 months. Note that calculations for roofed storage facilities are based on internal tank dimensions, with a 200mm freeboard allowance.
Future Considerations
Research is ongoing regarding the excretion rates of livestock categories listed above. Improved animal performance and higher feed intake over recent years have likely increased excretion rates, which may lead to adjusted storage requirements in the future. It may be prudent to build larger storage than currently needed to accommodate potential changes. For maximum benefit from slurry and farmyard manure (FYM), consider planning for 20% additional storage. Extra storage provides flexibility, reducing the need to spread manure during poor weather, which helps improve nutrient uptake and protect water quality. Ideally, slurry and FYM should be applied during optimal grass-growing conditions for the best nutrient utilization.
For those considering nutrient storage infrastructure investments, now is a good time to start planning. If approved by the European Commission, eligible investments may receive 60% grant aid based on reference costs. This scheme could attract significant interest, and builder availability may be limited in some regions. Full planning permission must be secured before any nutrient storage TAMS 3 application can be accepted. Contact your local Teagasc adviser for further information.