With the TAMS scheduled to end at the turn of the year, tillage farmers only have a few more months to avail of the scheme, which has proven hugely popular since it was extended to the sector. That does not mean the scheme is without blemish however, and there have been frustrations.

Here are three key things to remember when it comes to the next TAMS.

Tillage farmers failing the points race

There is a sense of frustration among tillage farmers that they are disadvantaged by the inclusion of points for farmers with ANC lands in the TAMS ranking scheme. The five points available under this category are denied to most tillage farmers, not least because the proportion of tillage land in a townsland influenced the loss of ANC status for many farmers in the recent review.

Some farmers have been bounced from the last tranche into the current one

In the last TAMS tranche, the minimum points required to be approved was 27.51.

While younger farmers sailed in, as they gained points for being under 40, most farmers over 40 remained stuck on 27.5 points, just short of the cut-off.

Some farmers have been bounced from the last tranche into the current one.

Adjusting an application to increase the ranking by reducing the costings of the machinery applied for has been suggested as an alternative.

The next tranche could then open for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown period

Ring-fencing a proportion of the overall money within each of the remaining tranches for Tillage TAMS might help alleviate this problem. Alternatively, there have been calls to close the current tranche as scheduled, rather than extending it into June.

This might allow those farmers who are eligible, but falling short in the rankings, to get over the line.

The next tranche could then open for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown period, which is affecting the ability of farmers and their planners to complete applications.

Low-interest loans

The biggest issue for many tillage farmers, assuming they are successful in gaining approval for equipment, is coming up with the matching funds.

Most machinery purchases are financed in lease agreements, but TAMS-funded projects cannot be leased.

With cashflow tight on farms and a 12-month deadline from the date of approval to expiry of that approval, this creates a lot of pressure.

The new €80m low-cost loan scheme announced by the Government may help in that regard. It seems that this scheme, like it’s predecessor, will be for capital investment projects, so it fits the bill.

Bank of Ireland, AIB, and Ulster Bank have all taken part in previous schemes

Farmers should be prepared to get pre-approval from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to maximise their chance of accessing money from this scheme, which has previously operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Bank of Ireland, AIB, and Ulster Bank have all taken part in previous schemes.

Don’t forget the smaller items

While there are some big-ticket items included, such as self-propelled sprayers and grain stores, there are plenty of lower-cost items that are worth consideration.

Tyre cages, applicators for small seeds – handy for cover crops or wild bird cover – and simple water recovery systems are all TAMS-eligible.

Rewiring or installation of roof skylight safety cages are also worthwhile investments.

They may suit someone who only has a limited budget at this time, or perhaps someone who has made a larger TAMS investment, but has not yet used all their allocation.