Last year saw close to 1,400 farmers apply for the catch crop measure under the Farming for Water EIP project.

The project team told the Irish Farmers Journal that farmers who received acceptance letters into the scheme in the pilot or in 2025 do not need to reapply this year.

However, they will need to submit a declaration confirming the location and quantity of eligible crops sown.

These requirements are the same as last year. Those planting catch crops ahead of winter crops need to plant these crops by 1 August, leave them in place until 30 September and submit the declaration of the area and location by 8 September.

Those planting catch crops ahead of spring crops need to plant these crops by 1 September and submit the declaration of area and quantity by 1 October.

If a farmer applied to plant 20ha of catch crops last year, but only managed to plant 10ha then they can still aim to plant 20ha this year and in every other year of the scheme. There is no penalty for not reaching the target, but the correct area must be submitted on the declaration form.

Growers who are planting catch crops under ACRES or any other schemes should also submit information on the location and quantity of these crops.

Applicants who applied for the scheme previously will be sent a reminder in the coming weeks.

Is the project taking new applicants?

The EIP team said: “There will be additional capacity within the next tranche to accept new applications for catch crops as part of a full EIP application, which will include any other measures that the advisor would recommend for that particular farm or landholding.

“Eligibility for the catch crop measure will be informed by the latest EPA data and will be more focussed than the catch crop pilot.

“The approval of the catch crop measure will be conditional on the implementation of the other measures recommended for the applicant.”