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There are a number of government grants and Tirlán programmes which can support the purchase of farm equipment from our branches. Below outlines what is available to farmers. For more information on the schemes and grants below speak to your local branch or your business manager.
| Dept. of Ag, Food & Marine Programmes | Tirlán Programmes |
|---|---|
| TAMS | Trading Bonus Scheme |
| Water EIP | Feed Bonus |
| Sustainability Action Payment | |
| FundEquip |
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & MARINE SUPPORT PROGRAMMES
The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) aims to provide farmers with grant aid which assists in the building and/or improvement of farm buildings and equipment. The scheme is jointly funded by European Union and the National Exchequer under the Rural Development Programme. The funding for the scheme is limited and all applications are subject to approval based on a strict selection criteria.
The TAMS budget is divided into tranches which are each about 3 months, but can be longer at the departments discretion. There is also a fast-track option which a farmer, who can prove the time critical nature of the purchase, can avail of. Applications are made online once a tranche opens and they are assessed after the closing tranche date. It is important to note that the scheme awards grants based on predetermined product prices, not on the actual purchase value.
Farmers who reach the grant aid ceiling are no longer eligible to apply for the TAMS 3 Scheme operated by the Department under the 2023 – 2025 Rural Development Programme. There are two scheme exceptions which have their own ring-fenced ceilings and these include: Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (LESSS) and Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS).
Currently there are 10 schemes with TAMS, under which farmers can apply. These are:
Scheme | Details | Product Examples | Grant Available |
Animal Welfare & Nutrient Storage Scheme | Assists in farm modernisation by improving the storage of animal excreta, soiled water and other farm manures, along with providing facilities to improve animal welfare. |
| 40% grant aid available up to a max. of €90,000. Farm partnership eligibility up to €160,000. Farmers who reach the ceiling under this scheme are not eligible to apply for other schemes, with the exception of LESS and Solar schemes. |
Dairy Equipment Scheme | Supports farmers investment in milk production. |
| 40% grant aid available up to a max. of €90,000. Farm partnership eligibility up to €160,000. Farmers who reach the ceiling under this scheme are not eligible to apply for other schemes, with the exception of LESS and Solar schemes. |
Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme | Supports farmers in their endeavour to improve farm safety. |
| 40% grant aid available up to a max. of €90,000. Farm partnership eligibility up to €160,000. Farmers who reach the ceiling under this scheme are not eligible to apply for other schemes, with the exception of LESS and Solar schemes. |
Low Emission Slurry Spreading | Supports the purchase of new specialist equipment for the spreading of slurry. LESS is an important environmentally sustainable technology. |
| 60% grant aid available up to a max. of €40,000 or €60,000 for a farm partnership. Use of this scheme does not impact grant aid availability in other schemes. |
Organic Capital Investment Scheme | Supports organic farmers to invest in facilities and equipment. |
| 40% grant aid available for licensed organic operators and 60% for farmers who are also current participants of the Organic Farming Scheme, up to maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 or €160,000 for a farm partnership. |
Pig & Poultry Investment Scheme | Assists farmers in the upgrade of pig and poultry units. Along with facilitating energy efficiency upgrades. |
| 40% grand aid up to a max of €500,000 (includes €90,000 ceiling available in the other TAMS schemes). Note: no additional ceiling available for farm partnerships. |
Solar Capital Investment Scheme | Encourages the use of renewable energies on farm; this scheme provides funding for the installation of solar PV panels. |
| 60% grant aid available up to a maximum of €90,000. Availing of this scheme does not impact the ceiling on other schemes. |
Tillage Capital Investment Scheme | Facilitates the tillage sector in marking farm improvements that yield efficiency and environmental benefits. |
| 40% grant aid available up to a max. of €90,000. Farm partnership eligibility up to €160,000. Farmers who reach the ceiling under this scheme are not eligible to apply for other schemes, with the exception of LESS and Solar schemes. |
Women Farmer Investment Scheme | Incentivises female farmers by providing increased support for capital investments. |
| 60% grant aid up to a maximum of €90,000. Farm partnership eligibility up to €160,000. Farmers who reach the ceiling under this scheme are not eligible to apply for other schemes, with the exception of LESS and Solar schemes. |
Young Farmer Investment Scheme | Provides support for farmer aged 18 – 41 years (on date of submission) for upgrading agricultural buildings and equipment. Farmer must have set-up within the last 5 years to qualify. |
| 60% grant aid up to a maximum of €90,000. Farm partnership eligibility up to €160,000. Farmers who reach the ceiling under this scheme are not eligible to apply for other schemes, with the exception of LESS and Solar schemes. |
A more detailed description of the scheme, including products eligible, their required specifications and costs allowable, can be found here on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine website.
TAMS IN NUMBERS
HOW TO APPLY
The Water European Innovation Partnership (Water EIP) project is part of the European Innovation Agriculture (EIP-Agri) projects which are locally led initiatives that tackle issues affecting natural resources, such as water, in an innovative way.
The Water EIP specifically aims to deliver targeted actions to reduce losses of nutrients, sediment and pesticides from agricultural lands. The project focuses on areas needing the most attention to protect water quality and will run from 2023 to 2028. Access to this €60 million fund is prioritised and farmers are approached to make applications. Farmers within certain areas will be invited to participate by farm advisors or agents working on behalf of the project. These farmers will work with their ASSAP Advisor to implement additional measures to enhance water quality on farm.
Measures that are eligible for funding include:
• Hedgerow establishment
• Additional fencing for bovine exclusion from water bodies
• Alternative Water Supply – Pasture Pump/Solar Pump/Water Trough
• Riparian Buffer Zones
• Tree planting
• Small Scale Ponds
• Earthen bund
• Sediment Traps
• Watercourse crossing/bridges
• Gateway relocation
• Multi Species Swards
• Pesticide mitigation measures
It is important to note that measures available for the EIP are for measures not mandatory to meet the farms regulatory requirements.
TIRLÁN SUPPORT PROGRAMMES
Beef and sheep farmer customers of Tirlán that are Co-op Members will also qualify for a Feed Bonus on their tonnes produced this year.
• For non-milk suppliers, the 2024 Feed Trading Bonus will be €10 per tonne of Beef, Dairy and Sheep Feed products purchased from Tirlán;
• For non-milk suppliers, the 2024 Feed Trading Bonus will be €3 per tonne for straights.
Farmer Members can log into their My Account to view their individual Trading Bonus Scheme details.
The Sustainability Action Payment, which is available to all Tirlán milk suppliers, supports the delivery of key on farm sustainability actions. This payment aims to put in place a support and measurement which will enhance the on-farm economic and environmental performance. All suppliers who declare at least 7 sustainability actions on their TirlanFarmLife.com account each year, will receive the 0.5 cent per litre Sustainability Action Payment the following year.
Under the 18 actions available to a farmer, there are two which fall under the farm equipment product range and can be purchased through Tirlán FarmLife. These include:
• Low emissions slurry spreading
• Fencing off water courses
FundEquip is a low-cost term loan designed to assist dairy farmers in acquiring specific equipment, including generators, calf feeders, milk cooling equipment, feed bins, bulk tanks, solar panels, Sensehub livestock monitoring equipment and LESS Equipment (low emission slurry spreading).
• Loan amounts from €3,000 to a maximum of €75,000
• Loan terms of either 3 years or 5 years
• Seasonal payments (April - November) inclusive to suit milk production
• Repayment is deducted from monthly milk receipt
Farmers can make enquiries about FundEquip by visiting the Finance Ireland website here and filling out an enquiry form.