Q. What is the purpose of the fodder production incentive measure for tillage farmers 2018?

A. This measure seeks to provide additional fodder to livestock farmers experiencing serious forage shortages. It will provide a financial incentive for the growing of forage crops on tillage land to alleviate some of the current shortfall in the market place.

Q. Who is eligible to apply for the fodder production incentive measure?

A. The measure is available to all farmers with tillage land who submitted a BPS application in 2018.

Q. Can the forage crops be grown on any lands?

A. The forage crops must be grown on lands declared as tillage on the applicant’s 2018 BPS application.

Q. What forage types are eligible?

A. Brassica crops of forage rape, stubble turnips and hybrids of rape/kale and short-term grass species such as Italian ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass and westerwolds are eligible.

Q. Are other grass/seed mixes eligible?

A. Perennial ryegrass and other grass/seed mixes are ineligible.

Q. What are the payment rates?

A. The eligible Brassica crops will qualify for a payment rate of €100 per hectare and the eligible short-term grass species will qualify for a payment rate of €155 per hectare.

Q. Are there minimum and maximum area limits for payment?

A. Yes, the minimum area is 3ha and the maximum area for payment is 50ha.

Q. What are the seeding rates required for these crops?

A. See Table 1. It is recommended to follow your agricultural adviser’s advice to establish these crops.

Q. Is there a minimum period that the crops must remain in situ?

A The crop must be growing for a minimum of eight weeks prior to harvest/grazing in situ and must be maintained/utilised, in the case of grass species only, until at least 1 February 2019. If removed before this date, the application will be deemed ineligible. Brassica crops cannot be removed until they have been harvested / grazed in full.

Q. Can I grow a catch crop and remove without grazing or harvesting?

A. No, the purpose of the measure is to provide additional fodder to help alleviate the shortfall of fodder currently.

Q. Is there a cut-off planting date?

A. The crop must be planted between 3 August and 15 September to be considered eligible for support. Crops planted before or after these dates are ineligible.

Q. If I grow a short-term grass crop, can I leave it in situ for a number of years and still avail of the measure?

A. Yes, a tillage farmer may decide to keep the short-term grass crop in situ as part of his/her rotation, but there should not be a reduction in the tillage area in 2019.

Q. Do I need a contract or proof-of-use with an end user to draw down the aid?

A. No, this is not required, but you may be asked for proof of sale of the fodder as part of the administrative or on-farm inspections.

Q. I have tillage and livestock on my farm, can I still avail of the measure?

A. Yes, if there is a shortage of forage on the holding, the forage produced under this measure can be fed to animals on the holding or sold if you have adequate fodder.

Q. I am in GLAS - can I still avail of the measure?

A. A GLAS participant may apply for this measure on tillage land not in receipt of GLAS catch crop aid.

Q. I have land declared as catch crops to satisfy Greening requirements, can I still avail of the measure?

A. A participant may apply for this measure on tillage land not declared as catch crops to satisfy Greening requirements.

Q. When and where will application forms be available?

A. Application forms are available from 8 August. They can be downloaded from Department of Agriculture website. They can be located under the farming schemes and payments link.

Q. What is the closing date for the measure?

A. Applications must be received by close of business Monday 17 September at the address below:

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,

Direct Payments Unit (DAFM Support Measure for the Production of Additional Forage 2018),

Government Offices,

Old Abbeyleix Road,

Portlaoise, Co, Laois

Q. What other paperwork is required apart from the application form?

A. Farmers are required to have seed purchase documentation, fertiliser receipts and other supporting documentation such as contractor invoices (if applicable), proof of sale of fodder (if applicable) etc. available on the holding. These may be requested by DAFM as part of administrative/On farm checks.

Q. Will there be farm inspections under this measure?

A. All applications may be subject to on-farm verification by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Such checks will include an examination of seed purchase documentation, evidence that the crop is grown to commercial standard and is available for grazing by livestock of harvested for own use or sale.

Q. What level of funding is available for the measure?

A. A financial commitment of €2.75 million has been secured.

Q. What happens if the value of the applications exceeds the €2.75m available funding?

A. An assessment on the financial cost will be made following the closing date and if the funding allocation is fully utilised and a pro-rata reduction may be applied.

Q. Where can I get further information on the measure?

A. Further information is available by contacting the Direct Payments Helpline on 0761064420.

Q. Is there a limit to the amount of funding an individual farmer can receive?

A. Eligibility to receive funding under the Production of Additional Forage Support Measure 2018 is dependent on the applicant remaining within the €15,000 individual aid limit in the 2016-2018 fiscal years, as set out in Commission Regulation (EU) 1408/2013.

Where any aid awarded exceeds this amount, no payment will issue.

The following list sets out the schemes in operation under the agriculture de minimis regulations for the rolling three year period 2018, 2017, 2016:-

  • Premium from Kerry cattle live calves
  • BVD scheme
  • BTAP

    STAP

    Beef Genomics Scheme

    Milking Skills Programme

    Dairy Development Programme

    Superlevy Instalment Scheme

    Fodder Damage Aid Scheme 2016

    Emergency Flood Damage Relief Scheme 2016

    SEAI Scheme – Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (Recording only)

    Weather Related Crop Loss Support Measure 2017

    Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme

    Inishowen Flood Relief Measure 2017

    Fodder Transport Support Measures 2018

    Read more

    Details released for fodder production incentive