Red Clover Silage Measure

The Red Clover Silage Measure (RCSM) aims to encourage farmers to sow red clover silage swards. A payment will be made to participating Co-op/Agri-retailers to assist farmers with the cost of buying red clover silage sward seed mixtures. This will help with the establishment of these swards

Red clover is a high yielding legume which converts atmospheric Nitrogen into a plant usable form.

Red clover silage is higher in protein than conventional silage and this combined with its ability to yield over 14t DM/ha should allow farmers to reduce their concentrate feed bills. These swards can provide a more environmentally friendly production system allowing for increased Carbon sequestration while at the same time reducing emissions of nitrous oxide which is a potent greenhouse gas.

How to qualify

To be eligible for the Red Clover Silage Measure, you must:

• Have submitted a BPS application in 2021/2022.
• Apply online at agfood.ie by the closing date of 14th April 2022.
• Following approval, purchase the designated red clover silage sward seed mixture from a participating Agri-retailer/Co-op by 31st August 2022.

Rate of payment

Once an applicant has been approved under the Red Clover Silage Measure a payment of €50 per 12kg bag of red clover silage sward seed purchased (up to the approved maximum) will be made to the Co-op/Agri-retailer. This must be deducted from the full price that the retailer would normally charge.

Participation is voluntary and it is open to all regions and farming enterprises.

How to apply

You, or your advisor on your behalf, can apply to participate on agfood.ie . Applications must be received by the closing date of 14th April. If more applications are received than the amount of seed available then a pro rata reduction of quantities of seed may be applied.

You must read the Terms and Conditions here

Contact

Red Clover Silage Measure

For more information from Teagasc on Red Clover you might like to check out the following: 

• The Signpost Series Webinar - Managing Red Clover on Dairy Farms (+podcast)
• A Guide to Red Clover (pdf)
• Contact your Teagasc advisor at your local Teagasc office.