Farmers can avail of up to 40% funding to cover the cost of installing a cattle crush or handling facility on their farm under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).

Under TAMS II, which has a budget of €395m over the next four years, farmers can seek grant aid of up to €80,000 to make improvements to the handling facilities on their farms.

In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners in a Department of Agriculture registered partnership, the maximum eligible investment ceiling can be raised to €160,000.

Young farmers, who meet certain criteria, can also avail of a higher level of funding, with grants of 60% available under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.

However, farmers must be aware that the minimum planned spend to receive approval for works carried out under TAMS II is €2,000.

And, according to the Department of Agriculture, grant aid will only be paid on approved, completed and eligible expenditure.

What’s included under the TAMS II scheme

The scheme, which first opened for applications in June 2015, 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.

Under TAMS II, farmers can apply for a wide range of handling equipment including semi-automatic skulling gates, head scoops and calving gates.

Items available for funding:

tams-ii

Source: Department of Agriculture

How to apply

If you are considering applying for funding to install any of the above on your farm, you must do so through the Department of Agriculture’s website. Applications can be made on agfood.ie.

Applications for TAMS II must be made online as manual applications by post, fax and email will not be accepted, the Department of Agriculture has said.