The hugely popular TAMS II scheme, which provides grants for on-farm capital investment, is to continue into 2021.

Tranche 21 officially opened on 16 January, immediately after the previous tranche closed. The new tranche is set to close on 16 April.

A number of amendments to the scheme have been made for the new tranche.

From a machinery perspective, the two key points to note are that GPS fertiliser spreaders are now available for all farmers and that derogation farmers are no longer eligible to apply for support for low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) equipment.

Spreaders

Up to now, GPS fertiliser spreaders were only available to tillage applicants under the scheme. Since the announcement, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has not yet published updated terms and conditions detailing specifications for these units, but it is likely they will remain broadly similar to those in place under thenTillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS).

Under this scheme, all new fertiliser spreaders must be GPS controlled and be able to control the application rate and have headland management.

Other requirements included that the GPS control unit (must include a display screen, GPS receiver and a control unit) shall be able to record the location, the fertiliser path (within a distance of 200mm of the actual location), the application rate and the spreading width across the field.

The unit may be either trailed or mounted. Mounted spreaders shall have a capacity of between 1,000 litres and 4,500 litres and can be placed on a bogey. Trailed spreaders shall have a minimum capacity of 5,500l.

The latest list of accepted GPS controlled fertiliser spreaders was updated by DAFM in July 2020 and consisted of the following brands: Agri-Spread, Amazone, Bogballe (KRM in UK), Bredal, Lemken, Rauch, Sulky and Vicon.