Over €5.1 million in outstanding scheme payments have been issued this week, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
This includes 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complimentary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) payments worth €2.59 million.
This includes the 2023 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers payments (€28.1 million), as well as the 2023 National Reserve (€3.9 million) payments.
An additional €500,000 was paid out under the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers and an extra €100,000 under the 2023 National Reserve this week.
The figures published today (Friday, February 23) show that 119,114 farmers have now received BISS and CRISS payments totalling €817.27 million.
DAFM
The data shows that €1.1 million was paid by the department to farmers who are in the Eco-Scheme as part of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
DAFM said that 117,087 farmers have now been paid almost €298 million under the scheme.
A total of €367,691 was also paid out this week under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).
Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) payments worth a total of €360,835 were issued this week. To date, 3,786 farmers have received their 2023 OFS payment totalling €38.6 million.
Some €720,000 was paid to farmers who are part of the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS). Just over €8 million has now been paid out to 2,870 farmers under the scheme.
There were no outstanding payments made under the Green, Low-carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) this week.
Schemes
On Tuesday (February 20), the department announced that it had opened the application process for the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
The department said that is also now accepting applications for Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Eco-Schemes and the other related schemes.
The closing date for BISS applications in 2024 is Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
The department has urged farmers and advisors “to avail of the early opening of the application process now rather than waiting until nearer the closing date”.
DAFM said that farmers will receive a BISS information pack in the post over the coming days.
The pack contains a Health and Safety Authority (HSA) leaflet along with a BISS help sheet, an Area Monitoring System (AMS) leaflet, maps, cover letter and a statement of lands.
“This information will assist farmers and their advisors to make their online application,” the department said.
The department said that annual payment claims for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM), Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) can also be made online.
In the case of ACRES Tranche 2 applicants, access to the BISS application system will be made available on a gradual basis over the coming weeks, as approvals issue and as the required updates to mapping systems are made.