Direct Payments 2026: BISS opens for applications and New Tillage Scheme launched
Both BISS and the Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme represent vital financial supports for Irish farmers in 2026, Richard Gill, Schemes Support Advisor, Teagasc Athenry, tells us more about the application process in this update.
The Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme remains the cornerstone of direct payments to Irish farmers in 2026 and continues to play a crucial role in supporting farm incomes across all sectors. BISS provides income support to active farmers based on eligible hectares declared and entitlements held. At its core, BISS is designed to provide stability and predictability in what remains a volatile farming environment, helping to underpin the viability of drystock, dairy and tillage enterprises nationwide.
To qualify for BISS in 2026, applicants must meet the definition of an active farmer and hold a registered herd number. Applications must be submitted online through the Department’s Agfood system, with farmers required to declare all eligible land that is actively farmed and at their disposal for the scheme year. Payments are based on the number of entitlements held and matched with eligible hectares declared. The scheme also works alongside other direct payment supports including the Eco-Scheme, Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), The Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers and the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC). Farmers should ensure they tick all relevant scheme options when completing their application to maximise their overall payment.
In 2026, there are several additional requirements to completing BISS applications for farmers leasing or renting land and for dairy farmers. Where land is leased or rented, the appropriate details including lease expiry dates must be recorded on the system at the time of application. A new functionality has also been introduced which requires dairy farmers to indicate the location of the milking platform on their holding. Where a holding is identified as supplying milk, all parcels must be classified as one of the following: milking platform, other or no agricultural activity.
There are a number of important deadlines that farmers must be aware of this year. The closing date for BISS applications in 2026 is 15th May, with a short window thereafter to make amendments without penalty. Advance payments are typically issued from mid-October, with balancing payments commencing from December onwards. As always, accuracy in mapping and land declarations is critical. The Department of Agriculture continue to place significant emphasis on land eligibility checks and satellite monitoring, and errors can lead to significant penalties. Farmers are therefore encouraged to review their maps carefully and seek assistance where needed.
Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme
Alongside BISS, 2026 also sees the rollout of the new Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme, introduced in recognition of the challenges facing Ireland’s tillage sector in recent seasons. This scheme is aimed specifically at growers of combinable crops such as barley, wheat, oats, rye, triticale and oilseed rape. The objective is to provide targeted financial support to tillage farmers and to maintain tillage area. Eligibility is based on hectares of qualifying crops declared under the previous year’s area-based scheme application.
The Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme operates on a degressive payment structure designed to support small and medium-scale growers while still providing assistance to larger operators. Payment rates are set at €110 per hectare for the first 100 hectares, €90 per hectare for the next 25 hectares (100–125ha), €70 per hectare for the following 25 hectares (125–150ha), and €50 per hectare on any area above 150 hectares. This sliding scale ensures that support is targeted while remaining proportionate across farm sizes. The closing date for applications under the tillage scheme is the 9th March 2026. Farmers must ensure they apply within the specified timeframe through the Department’s Agfood system.
Given the scale of payments involved and the increasing complexity of scheme requirements, farmers are strongly advised to engage early with their advisor. Teagasc clients should contact their local Teagasc office or advisor to arrange an appointment well in advance of the closing dates. Advisors can assist with map checks, entitlement queries, eligibility issues and ensuring all complementary supports are correctly applied for. Early preparation reduces stress and minimises the risk of costly errors.
Both BISS and the Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme represent vital financial supports for Irish farmers in 2026. By understanding the requirements, meeting deadlines and seeking professional guidance where necessary, farmers can ensure they secure the payments that form a crucial part of annual farm income.