The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued over €3.3 million in farm scheme payments last week.

The data, published by the department, shows that €2.3 million was paid out under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).

Over €2 million was paid to farmers in TAMS 3, while an additional €230,000 was paid out for TAMS 2.

Around €63 million has now been paid out under TAMS 3 across 7,156 claims. There has been 28,000 TAMS 3 applications approved with over 9,200 payment claims submitted.

The latest scheme payments update also shows that a further €667,000 was paid last week for the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complimentary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS).

This brings the total paid out to 119,371 farmers under these measures to €844.7 million.

This figure includes the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF) at €37.9 million and the National Reserve (€3.2 million).

An additional €84,000 was issued to farmers last week under the 2024 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and Areas of Specific Constraint (ASC).

€166,000 was paid out to participants in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), bringing the total payout to €56 million to 4,742 farmers.

There was also €59,000 paid out to farmers for the Baling Assistance Payment (BAP), along with €14,000 for the Green, Low-carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS).

Meanwhile, DAFM has reminded farmers that the deadline for BISS and other area-based schemes falls tomorrow (Thursday, May 15).

The BISS deadline of midnight on Thursday, May 15 is also the deadline for the related submission of applications for other schemes including the CISYF, eco-scheme, Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC), and transfers of entitlements.

Farmers who need support in making applications can contact the department's Direct Payments Helpdesk on 057-8674422. The lines will be open for extended hours in the run-up to the application deadline as follows:

Between 9:00a.m and 9:00p.m on Monday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 14;
Between 9:00a.m and 12 midnight on Thursday, May 15.

Staff will also be available to assist at the public counter in the department office in Portlaoise during these extended opening hours.

In-person consultations are available until half an hour before closing time on each of the days.

Farmers must apply for BISS and other area-based payments using the department's online facility, Agfood.ie.

Alternatively, farmers can contact a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved advisor to make the application on their behalf.

Should farmers wish to contact the department in relation to online applications they can do so at:

049 4368288 - in relation to queries on registering for www.agfood.ie – for example queries on lost passwords, how to register;
057 8674422 in relation to queries on completing the BISS application or to request a paper copy of the terms and conditions.