The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is expecting to complete a review of the multi-species sward (MSS) and red clover measures by the end of September.

The measures, which had been available in previous years, were not included as an option for farmers when applications opened in February for the the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon previously confirmed that his department was evaluating the effectiveness the schemes.

"My department is currently reviewing the Multi-Species Sward Measure and the Red Clover Silage Measure and the benefits, costs and the resultant significant uptake in the use of these crops in recent years will be factored into that review," he said.

He said that until the review is complete applications under both schemes will be paused and applications will not be accepted for 2026.

Minister Heydon acknowledged that "the use red clover and multi-species swards have been found to have many significant advantages over grass only swards".

"One of the main advantages is the ability of clovers and legumes to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a plant usable form of nitrogen which reduces the reliance of artificial nitrogen," he said.

Review

Data released by the department to Agriland shows that 1,703 applicants received a total of €2.93 million in payments under both measures in 2025.

The combined yearly budget for the schemes stood at €2.75 million in 2025.

Over 7,200 ha were covered by the Red Clover Silage Measure (RCSM) in 2025, along with 2,535ha for the MSS.

In 2024, 1,770 farmers were paid over €3 million through the schemes, while in the previous year more than €1.7 million was issued to 1,230 applicants.

A spokesperson for the department told Agriland that the review of the measures is currently underway and "it is anticipated that it will be completed by the end of September".

"No final decisions have been taken with regard to Budget 2027, so it is not possible to say what schemes will be included for next year," they added.

Support

Senator Victor Boyhan, a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food, has called for renewed support for the measures promoting multi-species swards and red clover amid a potential fodder shortage.

"Drought tolerant clovers like red clover present a major opportunity in sustaining forage yields especially during dry summer months when standard grass pastures stall," he said.

Boyhan has requested that the MSS and red clover schemes are included on the Oireachtas agriculture committee's agenda when it reconvenes in September.

"Teagasc has done a great deal of research into clovers. It's important now that a proactive strategy is agreed, based on the science, to assist farmers to realise the enormous benefits of growing more diverse sward mixes," the senator said.