Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Healy-Rae, has called on Minister Martin Heydon to confirm that everyone accepted into the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) scheme will receive their payment in full.

Deputy Healy-Rae has also urged the government to increase funding for the scheme to ensure no successful applicant loses out.

Farmers can apply for the SIM as part of their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.

Farmers can get paid  on at least five hectares and up to 40 hectares.

According to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon, SIM is a support measure for tillage farmers "which encourages them to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from cereal and oilseed rape crops".

He told Deputy Healy-Rae that under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, SIM has an overall allocation of €50 million with a projected annual spend of €10 million.

"Applications in 2026 amount to in excess of €16 million," Minister Heydon confirmed.

The payment rate for SIM is €250 per hectare for oats, wheat, barley and rye and a lower rate of €150 for oilseed rape straw. 

SIM

The minister also outlined to Deputy Healy-Rae that the terms and conditions for BISS and other area-based schemes "sets out the various means by which the payment rates" will be decided on.

He said that in circumstances where claims - as in 2026 - are in excess of the available budget the process is that there could be:

A linear cut to the rate of payment;
A degressive payment;
Acceptance based on the application of tiered applications.

Last year a total of €8.3 million was paid out to farmers who participated in SIM in 2025.

Minister Heydon has said that he is "acutely aware how important SIM is to tillage farmers and also the importance of farmers having certainty".

"At present all possible options are being considered and a decision will be made shortly to allow farmers to plan accordingly," he added.