The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., today announced that payments to farmers under the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme have commenced.
Minister McConalogue said: “I am very pleased that my Department has this week commenced these Fodder Support Scheme payments to over 71,000 eligible farmers. Issuing payments to farm families in a rapid manner is a key priority of mine and I am proud of our track record in this space. These payments are an important income boost to farmers at this time of year and, of course, are a recognition of the increased input costs farmers are facing as a result of the war in Ukraine and the ongoing cost of living crisis”.
The 2022 Fodder Support Scheme, announced in June of this year, incentivised farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for this winter, to ensure Ireland does not have any animal welfare issue over the coming winter and next spring.
Minister McConalogue added: “The budget for the Fodder Support Scheme is €56 million with a payment rate of €100 per hectare, with a maximum of 10 hectares receiving support”.
Payments will continue to issue to cleared cases on a regular basis over the coming weeks.
The Minister encouraged any farmers with queries in relation to the Fodder Support Scheme to direct them by email to fss@agriculture.gov.ie
Minister McConalogue also took the opportunity to remind the 71,000 eligible applicants under the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme that if they wish to apply for the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme, they must do so online by midnight on 5 December 2022.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
The Fodder Support Scheme 2022 aimed to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for the coming winter to ensure Ireland does not have any animal welfare issue over the coming winter and next spring.
Only farmers with grassland were eligible to apply and no support is being provided to Milk Suppliers. Tillage land are not eligible for support.
The maximum area eligible for payment under the scheme is 10 hectares with a potential maximum payment of €1,000.
Payments have commenced in November 2022 to cleared cases. For all non-cleared cases, once all administrative, compliance and on the spot inspections have been undertaken, these payments will be made before the end of 2022.