Agricultural consultants and advisers report a flurry of activity from farmers seeking to submit applications under tranche 20 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II), which closes for applications at midnight on 15 January 2021.

The spike in activity is said to be resulting from the fact tranche 20 is the final confirmed tranche under the current scheme.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has confirmed there will be a scheme available in 2021, but no details have been provided on whether or not the current scheme will rollover, or if there is likely to be changes.

As such, farmers are anxious to get applications submitted, and reports indicate there is also a high level of interest from farmers who were unsuccessful in receiving approval in tranche 19, or who have seen their applications rolled over from a number of tranches, in reviewing their application with a view to resubmitting it.

Some smaller holdings that are not receiving points based on age are reported as having been rolled over in a number of tranches at this stage

The main change being reviewed in these applications is reducing the proposed cost of investment in a bid to increase the application’s score in the selection criteria.

For example, schemes such as the animal welfare, safety and nutrient storage scheme have witnessed a consecutive increase in the points cut-off for approval, with tranche 19 standing at 63.75 marks.

Some smaller holdings that are not receiving points based on age are reported as having been rolled over in a number of tranches at this stage.

For farmers wishing to progress down this route, note that you must withdraw your current application by emailing tamsdocs@agriculture.gov.ie and then reapply.

Where farmers make no changes to their application, it will be rolled over for consideration in tranche 20.

It is unclear at present if applications deemed unsuccessful in tranche 20 will be rolled over to whatever scheme replaces the current one or if these will be rejected outright.