Scheme payments roll
Announcements regarding the commencement of payments under a number of important farming schemes were made this week by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Farmers participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), Beef Welfare Scheme or Protein Aid Scheme can expect payment in the coming days, while balancing payments under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC), Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistribution of Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) schemes have also commenced.
SCEP
On December 5th, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, announced that payments for year two of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) had commenced. In total, over €47.8 million had begun issuing to some 14,943 participating farmers.
Farmers should note that it may take up to five days to reach their accounts. SCEP participants are reminded to submit any outstanding documentation to the Department or the ICBF as soon as possible so that any outstanding payments can be processed.
Beef Welfare Scheme
On December 3rd, Minister McConalogue also confirmed that payments under the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 (BWS) had commenced. Over €19.98 million will issue to 23,132 participating farmers this week, with payments expected to be visible in farmers’ accounts in the coming days.
Designed to further enhance economic efficiency of and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms, the Beef Welfare Scheme 2024 supports farmers in meal feeding suckler calves before and after weaning, and in vaccinating against clostridial diseases and/or calf pneumonia. Farmers who select and complete both scheme actions will be paid €50 per calf subject to a maximum overall payment of €2,000 (40 calves).
Protein Aid Scheme
For the Protein Aid Scheme, Minister McConalogue confirmed that payments totalling €9 million had commenced issuing on December 6th.
Minister McConalogue said: “The payment provided under this scheme is an important support for tillage farmers for the growing of protein crops, including beans, peas, lupins and the protein cereal mix crop. These protein crops deliver a range of environmental benefits in addition to reducing our reliance on imported sources of protein for animal feed."
“The Protein Aid Scheme has proven extremely popular with tillage farmers again in 2024, with the total area increasing to over 21,600 hectares,” Minister McConalogue added.
ANC
On December 4th, Minister McConalogue also announced that balancing payments under the 2024 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme had commenced.
Minister McConalogue said: “The ANC scheme is an important support for farm families in many regions of the country. I am pleased to announce that payments totalling €241 million have issued to 96,731 farmers under the ANC scheme. To date, 99% of eligible applicants have received their payment under the scheme.”
“The efficient issuing of scheme payments is a key priority for my department. The 15% balancing payment under the ANC scheme has commenced on schedule and is in line with Farmers’ Charter commitments,” the Minister added.
BISS, CRISS and CISYF Balancing payments
On Monday of this week, December 2nd, Minister McConalogue confirmed that the balancing payments under the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistribution of Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) schemes had commenced.
The commencement of the BISS and CRISS balancing payments will bring the total paid under the 2024 Scheme to €807 million with 116,449 farmers now in receipt of a payment under this scheme. This means that €270 million will issue to farmers from December 2nd in the form of a balancing payment, with 98% of eligible applicants now in receipt of a payment under this scheme.
The Minister also confirmed that payments under the 2024 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF) had commenced on Monday, December 2nd. With a total of €31 million being paid out under this scheme to 5,584 young farmers.
For the schemes outlined above, farmers with outstanding queries from the department are reminded to respond as soon as possible to facilitate payment.