As the application deadline approaches, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed how many applications have now been submitted for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).

As of yesterday (Tuesday, May 5), a total of 92,701 applications for BISS and other area-based schemes have been received by the department.

This means that nearly 15,000 additional applications have been submitted to the department since April 27, when the total was recorded at 78,223 applications.

Of the overall total, 83,343 applications have been submitted by agents, while 9,358 have been submitted by farmers.

By comparison, 89,287 applications were submitted at this time last year.

88,480 applications have been submitted for the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) and 90,722 for the Eco-Scheme.

BISS

The closing date for BISS scheme applications is now just over a week away, on midnight of Friday, May 15, 2026.

This is also the deadline for the related submission of applications for a range of other schemes and transfers of entitlements.

Applications must be submitted online through the department's AgFood portal.

The final in a series of in-person clinics run by the department to help farmers in making their BISS and other area-based scheme applications online takes place tomorrow (Thursday, May 7).

The clinic will take place from 10:00a.m-4:30p.m at the Randles Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Staff from the department will be available to provide one-to-one support to farmers.

Farmers planning to attend the clinics must bring details of their MyAgfood.ie login, where available, and details of herd number, and PPSN to verify their identity.

Farmers can also contact the department's Direct Payments Helpdesk on 057-8674422.

The phonelines will be open for extended hours in the run up to the application deadline.

In addition, DAFM staff will be available to assist at the public counter in the department office in Portlaoise during these extended opening hours.