Payments worth €2.1m commenced this week to over 1,200 farmers participating in the 2025 Multi-Species Sward (MSS) and Red Clover Silage Measures.

The payment rate of €300/ha is available on a maximum of 20ha under each measure.

Announcing the payments, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: "In 2025, farmers have continued to show interest in both these crops and matching this interest, my Department has ensured that the payment rate of €300/ha is maintained. Eligible applicants will receive a payment on a maximum of 20 hectares per measure.”

The minister added: “These measures have enabled farmers to take advantage of the significant environmental and nutritional benefits possible from these swards and provide information for future management of such swards. These two measures have significantly increased our understanding of the benefits obtained from both crops, and how they should be managed for best results.”

Payments totalling €2.08m were sanctioned to 1,096 participants under the 2024 Red Clover Scheme while approximately €1m was paid to 766 farmers under the 2024 MSS scheme. The Department is encouraging farmers who they have sought further information from to return the required supporting documentation as early as possible to allow payments to issue.

BISS / CRISS / ANC

Meanwhile payments under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) and Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) have been paused since last week.

The reasoning for the pause is to allow for the processing of balancing payments under these schemes in early December.

The balancing payments for BISS and CRISS are worth 30% of the overall payment while the balancing payment under the ANC is worth 15%.

Balancing payments worth 30% of the overall payment are also set to commence in early December under the Eco Scheme. There was €2.575m paid under the scheme last week with payments pausing a week later due to the later initial commencement of payments.

Partnership issues

The Department of Agriculture have confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that there is payment issues with a small number of payments under partnerships.

A spokesperson for the Department said: “An issue has been identified with a limited number of 2025 BISS applications involving applications for a multi-herd partnership was initially submitted under the Temporary Reference Numbers (TRN) facility.

“A TRN is a facility used by advisers when a new herd number has not yet been assigned at time of application. This issue currently affects approximately 30 partnerships and it is expected that the issue will be resolved shortly and applicants will receive payment in early December.”

There are several schemes falling due for payment in December. The schemes and a guide to agreed payment timelines in the Charter of Farmers Rights is summarised as follows:

  • Sheep Improvement Scheme: Payments to commence in November.
  • CIS-YF and National reserve: 100% of cleared cases to be paid as a complete payment in early December.
  • Protein Aid Scheme: eligible applicants to be paid as a complete payment in mid-December.
  • SCEP: payments to commence to eligible applicants in mid-December.
  • National Beef Welfare Scheme: payments to commence in mid-December.
  • National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme: payments to commence in early December.
  • National Sheep Welfare Scheme: Payments begin in mid-December to farmers opting to delay completion of certain actions.
  • Organic Farming Scheme: advance payments to eligible applicants in early December.
  • Straw Incorporation Measure: payment to issue to cleared cases in mid-December.