Interest on Wednesday, excitement on Thursday but reality by Friday. TAMS for tillage has been a long time coming but the package of grant-aided measures targeted at tillage is comprehensive. While there are not surplus funds in the sector at the moment, many have been waiting for this announcement while others may avail of the option to help with essential equipment upgrading.
It is difficult to know how much of the €26m fund will be drawn down initially but these measures are beneficial. Individuals will differ in their requirements but some investments will be seen as more essential than others. A few may opt to build grain stores; many more are likely to wish to upgrade doors and handling equipment in grain stores, install grain dryers or application equipment for grain preservation, or to put in a roller/crimper.
Most new sprayers will be grant-aided providing they are fitted with electronic or GPS controls. The retrofitting of GPS equipment to sprayers is also grant aided and likewise for fertiliser spreaders. The spreader itself is not grant aided.
GPS steering control units are aided for tractors, either new or retrofitted to existing tractors, with minimum 200mm accuracy. Yield monitors for combines are also included. Low ground-pressure land tyres are not included because their use is not exclusive to tillage. There was surprise that self-propelled sprayers are included. While their high cost will limit the benefit, it will still be substantial for someone who needs such a machine.
Cultivators
Cultivators, disc or tined, that can be used to establish catch crops, do stubble cultivation or enable non-inversion establishment are all included. So also are cultivator drills and no- or strip-till drills. Seed boxes to be mounted on cultivators are there too. Used properly, all this equipment can help to reduce dependence on pesticides and heavy cambridge rollers and furrow presses are aided for similar reasons.
Webs for potato harvesters are included to enable salad potato harvesting and the inclusion of wheel changing equipment and manual or automated wheel pumping crates can help safety in the workshop.
The option to have buildings rewired or yard lights or internal building lights fitted with safety cages will be welcomed by some. Harvesting rainwater may not be seen as a priority on many farms but the option to get grant aid on a bowser, or to install a header tank, will appeal to some.
Read more
Farmers assess options for tillage TAMS
Farmer Writes: the black arts of crop nutrition and TAMS uncertainty
Interest on Wednesday, excitement on Thursday but reality by Friday. TAMS for tillage has been a long time coming but the package of grant-aided measures targeted at tillage is comprehensive. While there are not surplus funds in the sector at the moment, many have been waiting for this announcement while others may avail of the option to help with essential equipment upgrading.
It is difficult to know how much of the €26m fund will be drawn down initially but these measures are beneficial. Individuals will differ in their requirements but some investments will be seen as more essential than others. A few may opt to build grain stores; many more are likely to wish to upgrade doors and handling equipment in grain stores, install grain dryers or application equipment for grain preservation, or to put in a roller/crimper.
Most new sprayers will be grant-aided providing they are fitted with electronic or GPS controls. The retrofitting of GPS equipment to sprayers is also grant aided and likewise for fertiliser spreaders. The spreader itself is not grant aided.
GPS steering control units are aided for tractors, either new or retrofitted to existing tractors, with minimum 200mm accuracy. Yield monitors for combines are also included. Low ground-pressure land tyres are not included because their use is not exclusive to tillage. There was surprise that self-propelled sprayers are included. While their high cost will limit the benefit, it will still be substantial for someone who needs such a machine.
Cultivators
Cultivators, disc or tined, that can be used to establish catch crops, do stubble cultivation or enable non-inversion establishment are all included. So also are cultivator drills and no- or strip-till drills. Seed boxes to be mounted on cultivators are there too. Used properly, all this equipment can help to reduce dependence on pesticides and heavy cambridge rollers and furrow presses are aided for similar reasons.
Webs for potato harvesters are included to enable salad potato harvesting and the inclusion of wheel changing equipment and manual or automated wheel pumping crates can help safety in the workshop.
The option to have buildings rewired or yard lights or internal building lights fitted with safety cages will be welcomed by some. Harvesting rainwater may not be seen as a priority on many farms but the option to get grant aid on a bowser, or to install a header tank, will appeal to some.
Read more
Farmers assess options for tillage TAMS
Farmer Writes: the black arts of crop nutrition and TAMS uncertainty
SHARING OPTIONS