Sheep farmers urged to apply for grant

IFA has received assurances that the TAMS sheep fencing grant will be included before the end of the current tranche.

Emmet Duffy, Chairman, Longford IFA Rural Development Committee said IFA had gotten a commitment that the TAMS sheep fencing scheme would be available to apply for, two weeks before the end of the current tranche on June 24.

“At a meeting with the Department of Agriculture, IFA pointed out that unless the scheme was introduced in this tranche, little or no sheep fencing would be completed this year,” added Mr Duffy who then pointed out that the Department had also indicated that there would be no minimum sheep number requirement this time.

“With the investment limit being integrated into the overall maximum of €80,000 for TAMS, IFA called for the tillage measure to be implemented in a similar way.”

He went on to say that those interested in the measure should plan their investment now and be ready to make the application in June.

At the same meeting, Mr Duffy said IFA also raised the reopening of GLAS in the autumn. “Hill farmers are due additional monies as commonage farmers were paid on up to 17ha when the 2015 part payments were made earlier this year,” said Mr Duffy.

“Hill farmers who have more than 17ha will be paid on up to 42ha in June.

“In some case this could mean a payment of €750.”

He added, “Farmers in hen harrier and upland areas are demanding that the locally led scheme is in place immediately with meaningful payments for specific actions”.