Anaerobic digester operators and agricultural contractors will also be ineligible. \ Donal O' Leary
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Farms that are already required to use low-emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) will not be able to avail of a new grant to buy more equipment.
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said the proposed Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme cannot fund equipment that a farmer should already be using under existing rules.
In response to a written question from Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer, Minister Muir said eligibility for the scheme needs to consider “existing statutory obligations”.
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He gave the example of cattle farms that have over 200 livestock units and pig farms that produce over 20,000kg of manure nitrogen. Since February 2022, these farms have been required to use LESSE and DAERA analysis at the time indicated that the rule impacted around 1,100 farms.
“Such farm businesses would not be eligible to apply for support for LESSE under the proposed scheme,” Minister Muir confirmed.
Anaerobic digester operators and agricultural contractors will also be ineligible, as they have had to use LESSE since 2020 and 2021 respectively.
DAERA has said the aim is to launch the proposed £40m grant scheme in late 2025 and “a wide range of equipment and technology” will be eligible for funding.
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Farms that are already required to use low-emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) will not be able to avail of a new grant to buy more equipment.
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said the proposed Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme cannot fund equipment that a farmer should already be using under existing rules.
In response to a written question from Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer, Minister Muir said eligibility for the scheme needs to consider “existing statutory obligations”.
He gave the example of cattle farms that have over 200 livestock units and pig farms that produce over 20,000kg of manure nitrogen. Since February 2022, these farms have been required to use LESSE and DAERA analysis at the time indicated that the rule impacted around 1,100 farms.
“Such farm businesses would not be eligible to apply for support for LESSE under the proposed scheme,” Minister Muir confirmed.
Anaerobic digester operators and agricultural contractors will also be ineligible, as they have had to use LESSE since 2020 and 2021 respectively.
DAERA has said the aim is to launch the proposed £40m grant scheme in late 2025 and “a wide range of equipment and technology” will be eligible for funding.
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