2022 farmer schemes: Details and deadlines
In this article, That’s Farming discusses the upcoming deadlines for various farmer schemes the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine governs, the requirements, the relevant deadlines, and proposed payment dates.
With the current CAP coming to an end, the spring period is a busy season for application deadlines for farmers and their advisors.
From April to May, there are applications open for nine different schemes within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was first launched in 1962, and the EU is now about to commence a new CAP programme from 2023 to 2027.
Farmer Schemes 2022
Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP-S)
The objective of this scheme is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality practice in welfare management.
The Beef Sector Efficiency Programme (BEEP-S) is now open and is due to close on April 25th, 2022.
There is grant aid of up to €8,100 available per suckler farmer. The payment is up to €90 for the first 10 calf/cow pairs and €80 for the remainder up to a maximum of 100 pairs/herd.
Mandatory measures include weighing of live calf and dam and submission of live weight recording data to ICBF. There are also two optional measures, including vaccination or meal feeding at weaning or, otherwise, faecal egg testing.
You must submit weights to ICBF until November 1st 2022; payments are due to commence in December 2022. Eligible animals include beef bred animals born between July 1st 2022, and June 30th, 2022.
Dairy Beef Calf Programme
The Dairy Beef Calf Programme supports beef farmers rearing calves from the dairy herd. The scheme is due to close on April 25th, 2022.
The mandatory actions are similar to the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme, including weighing the live calf and dam and sending details of the weights to ICBF by November 1st, 2022.
You must weigh a minimum of five eligible calves, all of which you should submi within seven days of conducting the weighing. 12 weeks is the minimum age a calf should be weighed as part of this programme.
Payments are up to €20 per eligible calf weighed. At least five eligible calves should be weighed, and no more than 40 calves. Payments will commence in December 2022.
Tillage Incentive Scheme
The Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) is a new support scheme for farmers. The objective is to increase the eligible tillage crops in 2022. TIS will close on the Basic Payment Scheme deadline, which is May 16th, 2022.
Barley, wheat, oats, rye, oilseed rape, maize and beet are the eligible crops involved in the Tillage Incentive Scheme. The crop can be grown for on-farm farm, traded farm-to-farm or sold to a merchant.
Mixed crops, for example, arable silage, mixed cropping, etc., is not allowed.
The two key requirements of this scheme are:
- Conversion of grassland areas in 2021 to eligible crops in 2022;
- The area of eligible crops declared in 2022 should be greater than 2021.
Payments will be made at a rate of €400/ha and will commence in December 2022.
Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and National Reserve (Young Farmer/New Entrant)
BPS applications and ANC applications are annual applications conducted by either the farmer or their agricultural advisor.
The Basic Payment Scheme, ANC and National Reserve applications will close on May 16th, 2022. However, you can make amendments to BPS up until May 31st, 2022.
ANC
The Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme provides payment for eligible land in disadvantaged areas. ANC is divided into mountain areas, severely handicapped, and less severely handicapped areas. These areas cover approximately 75% of the country.
National Reserve
The National Reserve is a once-off application for young qualified farmers and new entrants to farming. The National Reserve scheme provides income support to these people setting up a farming enterprise.
Successful applicants to the National Reserve receive entitlements at the national average. Otherwise, a top-up of entitlements is allocated to entitlements that are below that level.
This deadline also includes the transfer of entitlements. Entitlements may require to be transferred should they be purchased, leased or inherited.
Straw Incorporation Scheme (SIM)
The Straw Incorporation Measure is a payment for chopping straw and incorporating it back into the soil.
The SIM will close for applications on the same date as BPS applications, which is May 16th, 2022.
You must cultivate winter or spring oats, rye, winter or spring wheat, winter or spring barley, and winter or spring oilseed rape.
Following harvest, you must chop straw, spread evenly and incorporate into the soil.
Oats, rye, wheat and barley receive payment at a rate of €250/ha. The DAFM issues payment for oilseed rape at a rate of €150/ha. It makes payment on at least five hectares but no more than 40 hectares.
Farmer Schemes: Protein Aid Scheme
The Protein Aid Scheme is a payment to farmers for growing beans, peas and lupins. These are nitrogen-fixing crops, which can provide important environmental benefits. These crops are a source of protein for animal feed.
You make an application for the Protein Aid Scheme as an element of your Basic Payment Scheme application. Farmers interested in participating in the Protein Aid Scheme should apply by May 16th, 2022.
Beans, peas and lupins are eligible crops you can cultivate under this scheme.
The payment rates vary for this scheme each year; in 2020, the payment rate was €215/ha.
All of the above schemes are relevant to Irish farmers as members of the European Union.
These payments provide additional supplementary income for farmers within specific markets of the agricultural trade.
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