Farmers can avail of 60% Grant under TAMS 2

By Kevin McMenamin, Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Longford

Thinking of building a new shed, improving handling facilities, updating slurry spreading equipment or looking to carry out new sheep fencing? Then you should consider the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 2 (TAMS 2). TAMS 2 covers many areas of farm safety and infrastructure and is open until 2020. It runs in 3 month tranches and priority is given to young trained farmers and those farming in disadvantaged areas.  Grant aid is 60% for young trained farmers or 40% in all other cases up to a maximum of €80,000 spend for individuals or €160,000 for partnerships. Minimum spend is €2,000 (all figures exclude VAT).

Farm safety should be priority on every farm. A typical family farming situation now involves part-time farming with the day-time herding attended to by a senior farmer left to handle large suckler-bred cattle. There were 14 farmers over 65 killed in farm accidents in 2017. Some of the farm safety measures include; installing yard lighting, cattle and sheep handling facilities (mobile and fixed), replacing hinged (swinging) doors with sliding or roller doors, retro-fitting of safety rails on silo walls and re-wiring existing farm buildings.

With regard to sheds, take time when designing one; it is a long-term investment that will serve you through most/all of your farming career. Teagasc have a range of farm building drawings and a wealth of knowledge around farm building design. Once you have settled on a design, you will need to get drawings of the proposed building done-up. For TAMS, you will need either full planning permission or a letter of exemption from the county council.

Some other items covered by the scheme are: Sheep Fencing, Silage Pits/Bases, Slurry Storage (Mass concrete tank without the shed), Low-Emission Slurry Spreading equipment (Umbilical or Tanker and Dribble bar/Trailing shoe/Shallow injection), Dairy Equipment (Milking, cooling and In-parlour feeding equipment), Pig & Poultry, Equipment for Organic farming and also Tillage equipment.

Once approved, you will have either 6 or 12 months to do the work and submit a claim for payment depending on the investment. Contact your local Teagasc office for a free once off consultation.