Latest news with #TargetedAgriculturalModernisationScheme
Agriland
12-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Investments being ‘postponed' due to planning exemption delay
Farmers are now postponing their on-farm slurry storage investments due to the delay in the government confirming the exemption to planning rules for storage infrastructure. That is according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), which said that the postponing of investments is 'hugely regrettable' in the context of our efforts to improve water quality. The farm organisation called for 'immediate government action' to address this delay. Eamon Carroll, the ICMSA deputy president, said: 'The current limbo that some farmers find themselves in is due to the delay in publishing the long-awaited planning exemption on slurry storage, and a level of clarity could be brought to this issue in a matter of days if the political will is there to do so. 'Farmers took the government announcement in autumn 2024 in good faith that a planning exemption would be in place in January 2025 and six months later, we are no further on. 'The reality is that if a farmer had applied for planning permission in January 2025, they would be through the process at this stage in most cases, but they took the government's word on this issue and are now in limbo, unable to invest,' Carroll said. The ICMSA is calling on the government to outline exactly what it is proposing; what will be allowed and not allowed under the planning exemption; and what date the exemption will be in place from. 'Based on this information, a farmer can make a judgement call to wait for exemption or go ahead and apply for planning permission,' Carroll said. 'It is hugely disappointing that at this stage, many farmers are going to miss out on the best months of the year for doing storage investment on their farm…this is really hampering farmer efforts in terms of improving water quality. 'This needs to stop,' he added, calling on the government to immediately publish the detail and allow farmers to make and informed decision on how to proceed with water quality investments on their farmers. 'Farmers are willing to do their part and the government needs to step up immediately on this issue,' he added. The relevant ministers have previously indicated that exemption under planning rules for slurry storage is 'expected' to be in place to coincide with the tranche of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) that is set to open on September 6 and close on December 5. At the beginning of April, a delegation from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) met with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State with responsibility for housing, John Cummins, on the promised exemption for stand-alone slurry storage. It was during this meeting that the September timeline was given, it is understood.
Agriland
09-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
MREF slams limit on TAMS applications in future tranches
The announcement that limits may apply to the number of applications under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) in future tranches has been criticised by the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF). Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon said over the weekend that, as TAMS is a demand-led scheme with a defined budget, it may be necessary to limit the number of applicants per tranche through ranking and selection criteria going forward. However, the MREF said that such a move could have 'a significant damaging impact on the ability of commercial farmers to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs'. Kieran Kells, the chairperson of the MREF, said that the 60% grant support available under TAMS for on-farm solar PV panels and infrastructure is a 'massively valuable necessary support measure', and that farmers have 'increasingly bought into investing in solar PV to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions'. 'It is very disappointing to hear that the government is signaling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports. 'This is a retrograde and negative step that will undermine Ireland' ability to meet its climate action and emissions reduction targets,' Kells said. According to the MREF, the current eligibility and ranking criteria for applications should be abolished, or at a minimum reviewed and updated to ensure that they prioritise and support all farmers who need and use energy in their business. The MREF chairperson said that a recently published assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland's progress towards meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets 'is a sobering read'. 'If the minister now restricts supports for farmers investing into renewable energy, it will be seen as an incredible own goal by the government,' Kells said. He added: 'Ireland is facing billion of euros in costs and fines for failing to meet our climate change targets. 'The minister needs to ensure there is unrestricted support for farmers investing into renewables if he is serious about helping farmers decarbonise and help the country meet its challenging climate change targets,' Kells said. TAMS applications The minister also confirmed over the weekend that 100% of eligible applications received under tranches 6, 7 and 8 of TAMS have been approved. Tranche 6 closed to applications on March 7, 2025, with 4,931 applications received across the 11 schemes. Tranche 7, the emergency tranche which was opened in response to Storm Éowyn, closed for applications on March 28, with 1,945 applications submitted in respect of the agreed emergency investments, including back-up generators; sheep, bovine and equine fencing; wood and biomass chippers; and mulchers. Tranche 8 closed on Friday with approximately 5,000 applications received. Tranche 9 of the scheme is now open.
Agriland
07-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
How farmers are going green with sustainability-linked loans
Bank of Ireland's Enviroflex sustainability-linked loans are helping farmers in Munster make their farms more environmentally friendly, according to regional agricultural development manager, Pat Byrnes, Recognising the distinctive challenges farmers face, Bank of Ireland developed Enviroflex, a sustainability-linked loan that supports and rewards farmers who implement sustainable actions on their farms through discounted interest rates. Byrnes explained how Bank of Ireland partners with local dairy co-ops and their sustainability programmes. He said the Enviroflex loan rewards farmers via discounted interest rates when they adopt measures on their farms that reduce their environmental footprint – i.e., reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving biodiversity, water quality, and animal welfare. Financing sustainability efforts Byrnes outlined that there has been significant interest in the loan product, with over €40 million-worth of applications received to date. He said that while the average size loan is €55,000, the loans range in size from €10,000 to €500,000. Farmers are using the loans for a range of purposes, from installing solar panels to adding additional slurry storage, with many taking advantage of the current Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). Source: Bank of Ireland Byrnes said: 'For example, last year we supported a dairy farmer in Co. Limerick who was looking to upgrade his milking parlour, 'The farmer had expanded from 60 to 120 cows and the parlour was 30-years-old. He was a member of Kerry Evolve, was milk recording, and using protected urea along with multi species swards. 'We provided a €100,000 facility under Enviroflex over a seven-year term to this farmer. 'The farmer was delighted as the rate was very competitive. The farmer was already getting an additional sustainability payment from Kerry,' Byrnes said. By taking part in the Evolve scheme, the farmer reduced the carbon footprint of the farm over the past number of years. He is delighted to get an additional benefit from the Kerry Evolve scheme by availing of lower cost finance from Bank of Ireland. Source: Bank of Ireland Another example was where a dairy farmer supplying Kerry Dairy Ireland with land at both sides of a public road decided to build an underpass under the road. He was approved for a €60,000 loan through Enviroflex over a five-year period to help fund the underpass. According to Byrnes, the farmer is delighted he built the underpass, as his cows have benefitted by having to spend an hour less each day standing in the yard after milking . The farmer himself also has more peace of mind from a safety perspective, as the cows are no longer on the road and he has saved an hour each day herding the cows across the road. Byrnes also noted that he is seeing a lot of interest in farmers investing in solar panels. For example, a dairy farmer in Clare who had high electricity bills decided to install solar panels on his shed this year. He availed of a €20,000 loan over three years under Enviroflex through Kerry Dairy Ireland. 'He told me recently his electricity bills have reduced significantly this spring and he has hot water at all times which is vital for parlour hygiene. He reckons the solar panels will pay for themselves in less than three years,' Byrnes said. Benefits for farmers The agricultural development manager outlines that water quality and nutrient management are top of mind with many of the farmers in his area. He said a farmer in north Co. Cork built an additional slatted cubicle shed last year, had borrowed €120,000 over seven years from Bank of Ireland under Enviroflex, as a supplier to North Cork Creameries. 'This farmer is now making much better use of slurry by spreading it at appropriate times and given that slurry is an important nutrient, he needs to spread less artificial fertiliser which is saving him money' Byrne added. Byrnes explains that the risk of water pollution is also reduced for this farmer, who no longer has to worry about having to spread slurry because tanks are full, especially when weather conditions are not suitable. For farmers who are interested in availing of Enviroflex, Byrnes outlines that they must first talk to their co-op to ensure they are eligible. They can then apply online or enquire in their local Bank of Ireland branch. Currently, Enviroflex is available to over 95% of dairy farmers who participate in a co-op sustainability scheme, with 12 co-ops now supporting the rollout across the dairy sector. The loans have also recently been made available to tillage farmers via Irish Distillers. Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. Over 18s only. Warning: The cost of your repayments may increase. Warning: If you do not meet the repayments on your credit facility agreement, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
