As revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal on Monday night, a new €20m pilot scheme for suckler farmers and an increase of up to €23m in ANC payments were confirmed in Budget 2019.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe made the annual budget announcement this Tuesday afternoon in the Dáil, saying: "I recognise that 2018 has been a difficult year for farmers."

Watch this space for coverage of the measures affecting farmers and reaction as it happens.

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  • A new scheme for suckler farmers worth €20m has been confirmed.
  • ANC payments receive a €23m boost.
  • A new agri-loan scheme is to be launched next year. We explain how this connects with the loans already announced in Budget 2018 last year, but not available yet.
  • The total commitment under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for 2019 is €638m. This includes Agri Environmental measures of €203m and €70m for the Targeted Agricultural Measures (TAMS).
  • Farm Assist and other social welfare payments will go up in March.
  • The gap between tax credits for the self-employed and PAYE workers is decreasing.
  • The ability to average income tax over several years is extended to those with off-farm income.
  • Under one-tenth of the estimated cost of the rural broadband roll-out is available for next year.
  • There will be no increase in the carbon tax applied to fossil fuels including diesel.
  • Renewable energy support schemes are set to benefit from a €164m allocation for the sector.
  • The Government hopes that afforestation will pick up to absorb an increased €103.5m allocation.
  • Some €53m is available for rural regeneration projects.
  • Bord Bia's funding for 2019 will increase by a further €5m bringing the total Grant in Aid to €46.6 million. This is a 60% increase in funding since 2014.
  • Teagasc will receive an additional €6m in funding to progress an €8 million Food Innovation Hub in Moorepark, of which €2 million was provided in 2018.

    • The budget has so far received a mixed reaction from farm organisations.

    Listen to the announcements and reactions in our special podcast below: