There are a number of scheme application dates fast approaching as we enter into the final few weeks of April and, with the busyness of farms at this time of the year, these dates can often slip the farmer’s mind.

Dairy farmers are just wrapping up the end of the calving season, with a couple of stragglers around still to calve, after which it will be straight into the breeding season, silage-making, and the main grazing season.

There is certainly no let-up at this time of year, but farmers need to sit down for a couple of hours to apply for a number of schemes and see if they are eligible to avail of schemes that they have not availed of in the past.

For farmers who are seeking a Nitrates Derogation in 2025, they need to be aware that the deadline for submitting an application is May 15, 2025.

The dairy cow band must also be confirmed for 2025 through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation’s (ICBF’s) website before May 15, 2025.

Farmers will also be able to declare what crude protein is in their concentrates fed to the their cows across the year, which can bring down their excretion rate/cow.

If farmers fail to confirm their herd’s band, it will be automatically selected at the highest excretion rate band of 106kg nitrogen (N)/cow for 2025, until the farmer submits appropriate information to the department to confirm their appropriate band.

Scheme deadlines

The closing date for the Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS) applications is May 15, 2025 and, during the application process, farmers can apply online for all elements of direct payments which include:

BISS;
Eco-schemes;
Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers;
Protein Aid;
National Reserve;
Transferring of entitlements.

When you are applying for BISS, ensure that you have correctly applied for Area of Natural Constraints (ANC), ECO, and continued participation in Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers, if applicable.

Annual payment claims for the Straw Incorporation Measure, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and the Organic Farming Scheme can also be made online, along with the Multi-species Sward Measure and the Red Clover Silage Measure.

CAP Strategic Plan Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme

As breeding season is only around the corner, farmers should question whether they would benefit of availing from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan (CSP) Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme.

This scheme is designed to support farmers to improve animal health and welfare of the national dairy herd by using genetically superior beef sires for breeding dairy beef calves.

The CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme offers payment rates of €20/eligible calf up to a maximum of 50 calves per holding.

Most farmers are producing these calves anyway, and may as well get that extra €20/head when they can.

To be eligible, artificial insemination (AI) straws must be used or stock bulls with a minimum rating of three stars on the ICBF Dairy Beef Index (DBI) and on the beef sub-index of the DBI.

Farmers who enrolled in the scheme last year will automatically be rolled over, and the scheme is now open to new entrants via agfood.ie until May 15, 2025.

Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme

This measure is not the same as the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme, the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme has returned in 2025.

This scheme is open to dairy farmers rearing their own calves or non-dairy farmers rearing dairy-beef calves and offers payment rates of €20 per eligible calf, up to a maximum of 50 calves.

To be eligible for payment, participants must weigh eligible calves and submit weight data to the ICBF.

Additionally, these calves must have been:

At least 12-weeks-of-age at the time of weighing and registered on the holding being weighed on for a minimum of 10 days prior to the date of weighing.
Born between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Applications for the 2025 Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme must be lodged online through agfood.ie before midnight on May 15, 2025.

Late applications will be accepted, subject to payment deductions, until midnight on June 9, 2025.

Sheep schemes

Sheep farmers can avail of an extra €13/ewe by completing three actions, two that are mandatory and one that is voluntary, through the National Sheep Welfare Scheme, which is is currently open to applications.

The 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme consists of straightforward measures that are practical to implement on all sheep farms, and farmers interested must apply before the end of the day on May 15, 2025.

Separate to the National Sheep Welfare Scheme, another CSP Scheme, the Sheep Improvement Scheme, is designed to enhance animal health and welfare in the Irish sheep industry.

This offers a payment of €12/ewe and is currently open to new entrants. First-time applicants must apply before April 29, 2025.

Scheme deadlines

CAP Strategic Plan Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme

Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme

Sheep schemes

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Reminder: A number of scheme application deadlines approaching