There is a growing focus emerging from the Department of Agriculture in increasing the volume of slurry applied through low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) technologies. This objective is clear in recent schemes such as the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS) where it was classed as a priority entry measure and more recently it has been incorporated into the Nitrates Derogation.

While applying slurry with LESS technologies in GLAS was an optional measure, it is compulsory for some 7,000 farmers availing of the Nitrates Derogation since 12 January 2020. Under the new ruling, farmers must furnish records showing the volume of slurry spread by LESS for 2019, 2020 and 2021 in m3. It is important that volumes applied tally with numbers of stock overwintered and the volume of slurry that is likely to have been produced. Farmers must show evidence or provide details of the use of a contractor (invoices) or their own equipment.

Increased requirements

There are also in the region of 5,000 farmers who are stocked above the limit of 170kg organic nitrogen/ha but remain outside of the Nitrates Derogation by means of exporting slurry. The expert group which recommended changes to the Nitrates Derogation also recommends this cohort of farmers should comply with these rules including those listed for slurry spreading.

The Department confirmed that this recommendation will be adopted and rolled out in due course, meaning the volume of slurry required to be applied through LESS will increase significantly. It is also likely that as the Department continues to encourage a reduction in the volume of slurry applied by a splash plate that any future environmental schemes such as a proposed new REPS-type scheme will include some measures for LESS either as an optional measure or compulsory for certain farming systems.

TAMS grant aid

LESS equipment is eligible for grant aid under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II). Grant aid is payable at a rate of 40% up to a maximum investment of €40,000 per holding for individual farms. In the case of a joint application between two or more eligible partners under a Department of Agriculture registered farm partnership, the maximum investment ceiling referred to above shall be increased to €60,000. The terms and conditions state that the investment ceiling under the LESS scheme is not subject to the overall TAMS II investment ceiling of €80,000 per holding.

The terms and conditions also state that multiple applications are permissible per tranche. However, the minimum amount of investment which is eligible for approval under LESS is €5,000 per application. Qualifying young trained farmers will be eligible for grant aid of 60% for LESS investments but in order for this to occur applications must be submitted under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.

Applications for aid will be assessed in accordance with the following criteria in order of priority:

  • Age of the applicant.
  • The proposed cost of the project by the applicant as completed in the Proposed Investment Tab of the online application form. For this purpose applicants will be given preference where the proposed costs are lower than the Department’s reference costs. Please note proposed investment costs must be reasonable and may be subject to verification prior to ranking and selection.
  • Size of the holding/enterprise.
  • Nitrates Derogation and/or pig farmers.
  • Nitrogen from cattle manure per hectare.
  • Any part of a holding in an Area of Natural Constraint.
  • Tranche timelines

    As reported in previous weeks, there is a level of uncertainty surrounding TAMS II and upcoming tranche dates. The current tranche (tranche 18) opened for applications on 6 June. The period of time for which it remains open has been reduced from the normal duration of three months to two months, with the closing date for applications midnight on 7 August 2020. There is no information as yet regarding subsequent tranches.

    The Department had previously stated in response to making it compulsory to apply slurry with LESS equipment for farmers availing of a Nitrates Derogation that they anticipate grant aid will be available for the purchase of LESS equipment until 15 April 2021 but it has not been confirmed if this now remains the case.

    Level of take-up

    The Department of agriculture has recently confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that in total €23.5m has been paid out under LESS up to 30 June 2020. The average payment is reported as €10,913.25, which includes LESS items paid for under the Young Farmers and Organic Capital Investment Schemes.

    Table 1 details a breakdown of the investments and the number of applicants which availed under each heading.