Ranking and selection, which was implemented in tranche nine of TAMS III to curtail spending under the scheme, has been applied to each subsequent tranche, with varying approval rates given for each scheme. Advisors were recently furnished with the percentage of each sub scheme that would be approved, as well as the marking cut of based off the points system used, which is listed in Table 1.

The majority of sub schemes within TAMS have seen an increase in the percentage of applications approved, except for the Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS) and Low Emissions Slurry Spreading (LESS) which remain at 10%.

The Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES) has seen approval rates rise from 10% to 20%, while the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) has risen from an approval rate of 50% in tranche 10 to a rate of 70% in tranche 11. All the remaining five schemes, except the Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme (FSCIS), have seen approval rate rise from 60% to 75%. The FSCIS remains at an approval rate of 100%, with the Minister for Agriculture having previously highlighted his commitment to improve farm safety through the scheme.

Farmers and advisors are reminded that tranche 12 of TAMS III closes for applications on 19 June, with this closing date having been extended from the original date of 12 June by the minister.

Tranche 13 will therefore open at the later date of 22 June and will close on 4 September, with tranche 14 opening thereafter and closing on 4 December, provided there are no extensions to either scheme.