The Department of Agriculture’s computer system needs to be upgraded before tillage farmers can make applications to the TAMS II tillage scheme, the Department has confirmed.
Earlier this year, the Department said that it had received approval from the European Commission to include a specific measure for tillage farmers within the TAMS II suite of schemes.
However, the Department has confirmed that background work is required before the scheme can be launched “including detailed specifications and upgrading of the computer system to enable tillage farmers to make their applications online is ongoing”.
It is expected that tillage farmers will be able to apply for the new scheme before the end of the year, it said.
The range of investments proposed include investments that have never been grant aided in the past, the Department confirmed.
It is understood that the tillage scheme will include grant aid for improved grain storage facilities, ventilation and improved drying equipment for grain. It has also been speculated that precision and low impact tillage equipment for arable crop farmers will also be grant aided.
Falling under the TAMS II suite of schemes, it aims to provide farmers with grant aid to improve and/or build a specific range of farm buildings or purchase equipment that may benefit their farm businesses.
There was significant anger amongst tillage farmers when little support has been provided for tillage farmers under the original TAMS II farm building schemes.
While other sectors could avail of significant grants for a host of different infrastructural projects, tillage farmers voiced their disappointment with little in the way of sector specific eligible items in their field.