The Department of Agriculture is reviewing reference costs in TAMS in light of recent rises in steel prices.

Steel prices have risen by as much as 40%, with timber and cladding costs also up. The Department told farm advisers any changes would not be applied retrospectively. Only applications submitted after the review will be subject to revised costings.

TAMS tranche 21 closes in mid-April, with no further tranches confirmed yet. Approvals will begin within days for farmers who applied to tranche 20.

Another significant portion of them are set to miss the cut-off for approval.