The Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS), which offers enhanced support to start or expand a business under TAMS, carries a grant rate of 60% and a maximum investment ceiling of €90,000.
Registered farm partnerships can draw down up to €160,000 under the measure, but joint ventures and companies, are among those, along with individuals, capped at €90,000, a webinar organised by the DAFM, heard on Tuesday, June 20th, 2023.
To be eligible for the measure, you must, according to the terms and conditions outlined by the DAFM:
- Be aged between 18 and 66 years of age (up to your 67th birthday);
- Registered as a female on the CCM (Corporate Customer Management) system. Check through agfood.ie or contact your local DVO in relation to this.
Green Cert
If you were established (company director or name on herd number, on BPS) on the farm holding in 2022, there is no educational requirement.
However, if you join the farm holding after 2022, you must meet the educational requirements – hold a Green Certificate – to be in a position to apply for the measure.
As is similar, with the CIS-YF, you must be in control of the holding, and you may be required to demonstrate this commitment if you are not farming in your own right.
In the case of farming in a partnership or as part of a company, you will be required to sign a declaration and, if subjected to an inspection, may have to complete a questionnaire to demonstrate your control.
Investments
Investments under the measure include [must ensure you meet the minimum requirements at present]:
- Animal housing;
- Slurry storage – similar to Animal Welfare Scheme;
- Silage pits;
- Fencing;
- Underpasses under public roads;
- Farm roads;
- Equine facilities;
- Automatic drafting;
- Pasture management machinery;
- Tillage equipment;
- All equine investments in AWNSS, plus tillage investments, dairy equipment investments and some pig and poultry investments.
You can find a list of investments and specs on the DAFM’s website.
A spokesperson for the DAFM said, “is hoping to get the scheme out in the next couple of days”.
More to follow on www.thatsfarming.com
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