Department of Agriculture figures released to the Irish Farmers Journal show a total of 4,786 farmers selecting the measure under GLAS.

Figures show that applicants in tranche III more than doubled from the first two tranches. 2,618 applicants selected the measure in tranche III, with 1,238 participants selecting the measure in GLAS tranche I and 1,020 in tranche II.

This has resulted in 1.043m cubic metres of slurry being applied in this manner in 2016, a figure which is likely to rise significantly in 2017 and 2018, as farmers looked to secure access into the scheme.

Interest in Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) has increased significantly on the back of gaining priority access into the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS), and attractive funding under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).

TAMS

The fact that grant aid on related equipment is also covered in TAMS is also helping to drive interest.

Eligible investments cover the purchase of a new slurry tank, or umbilical cord system with a low-emission slurry spreading attachment.

Grant aid of 40% is available up to an investment ceiling of €40,000 (excluding VAT) per holding. For farmers who are in a partnership, the ceiling increases to €60,000. The investment ceiling under this scheme is separate to the overall TAMS II investment ceiling of €80,000 per holding, which makes this scheme more attractive.

To date, 875 applications have been made to the Department of Agriculture for the LESS scheme in TAMS in all six tranches.

There is indicative funding of €10m allocated to the scheme, and payments amounting to €1.4m have issued so far to farmers.

The Department explains that 135 applicants have been paid of the 173 applications for payment received to date. Payments continue to issue on an ongoing basis.

A full breakdown of the investments applied for can be found at farmersjournal.ie.

TAMS II fertiliser spreader details released

Both trailed and mounted fertiliser spreaders with full GPS control will be covered for grant aid in the current tranche of the TAMS II tillage scheme.

Originally, the GPS equipment for spreaders was only covered for grant aid in the scheme and fertiliser spreaders were omitted.

According to the Department of Agriculture, specifications all fertiliser spreaders covered in the scheme must be fitted with a GPS control unit, weigh cells, automatic rate control, variable width spreading capability and headland control to be grant aided. The fertiliser control unit must be able to control the rate of fertiliser application, and the width of spread of the fertiliser to both left and right independently.

In addition, the system must control the turning on and off of the fertiliser spreader when approaching and leaving a headland.

The unit must be able to undertake all controls while the fertiliser spreader is in operation in the field. The fertiliser spreader must have at least four nominal applications widths, which can be switched between while in motion.

Grant aid

Grant aid is paid at a rate of 40% for general applicants or 60% for qualifying young trained farmers, up to an investment ceiling of €80,000.