A total of 2,046 of 4,301 approved Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS III) grant aid applications were paid out up to 19 May 2026 for the purchase of low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) systems and the purchase of GPS-controlled fertiliser spreaders.

This is according to an answer provided by the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to a parliamentary question put forward by Carol Nolan TD.

The question was in regard to the uptake figures for precision fertiliser application technology and LESS equipment under TAMS III.

While the purchase of LESS falls under its own dedicated scheme, farmers can avail of grant aid on GPS controlled fertiliser spreaders under the following schemes:

  • Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) at a grant rate of 40%.
  • Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) at a grant rate of 60%.
  • Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) at a grant rate of 60%.

    • The statistics show that a total 5,258 grant applications were received under TAMS III to grant aid the purchase of GPS controlled fertiliser spreaders and LESS.

    Of this number, 4,301 applications submitted or just under 82%, were approved for funding.

    Looking at the LESS scheme, in particular slurry tankers fitted with any of the approved LESS systems (trailing shoe/ flexible trailing shoes and shallow disc injection systems) the Department of Agriculture received 4,038 applications, 3,337 were approved and 1,658 were paid out.

    A total of 192 umbilical systems with LESS applicators were applied for, of which 149 were approved with funding received for just 51 approvals.

    The lag between the number of approved applications and those paid out is likely due to three to six month lead times on certain LESS equipment. Therefore, the number of applications paid would be expected to rise over the coming months.

    In terms of grant aid for the purchase of precision GPS-controlled fertiliser spreaders, a total of 1,028 applications were received across the three schemes, of which 815 were approved.

    Out of 3,337 approved applications for slurry tankers fitted with LESS systems, 1,658 farmers were paid out. \ Odhran Ducie

    Of the total applications approved, just over 41% of farmers (337) invested in these high-tech GPS controlled spreaders.

    Nolan asked whether additional funding or incentives will be introduced to help farmers reduce fertiliser usage without compromising yields.

    Responding, Minister Heydon said: “In order to ensure that the available budget is distributed fairly over the remainder of the CAP strategic plan programming period, it was necessary to limit the number of approved applications in recent tranches by applying ranking and selection criteria.”