Farmers and contractors urged to claim fuel support before deadline closes
Farmers and farm contractors have been urged by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to apply for the fuel support scheme before it closes next week.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
According to Minister Martin Heydon there has been a good response so far to the scheme.
The minister said: "Based on applications received so far the average contractor will likely see a payment of more than €6,000 with larger contractors potentially receiving multiples of that.
"Again, on figures in so far for farmers the average payment is in the region of about €650.”
Fuel support
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) the fuel scheme was introduced as a result of the "exceptional pressure" that exists on farmers and contractors due to the dramatic increase in the price of green diesel.
Minister Heydon said: "The application process is very straightforward so I would urge farmers and contractors who have not yet applied to do so in the coming days.
"The average contractor is using around 70,000 litres of diesel a year and this payment will assist their businesses at a time of high fuel usage and associated cost.”
The Fuel Support Scheme for farmers and farm and forestry contractors will cover the months of March up to the end of July.
In order to quality farmers must have:
- Submitted a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application in 2025 and been deemed as an active farmer in 2025;
- Continued to actively farm in 2026 and will submit a valid BISS application;
- In the case of intensive enterprise like pig or poultry, a famer must be registered with DAFM in 2025 as a producer and continue to do so in 2026;
- New entrants to farming in 2026, will be considered where they have applied for a herdnumber on or before May, 15 2026 and have submitted a BISS 2026 application and have been deemed an active farmer.
Forestry/contractors
An agricultural/forestry contractor for the purpose of the scheme is defined as an individual/company that:
- Provides agricultural or forestry services;
- Is registered for VAT and tax compliant;
- Operated as an agricultural/forestry contractor in 2025;
- Continues to operate as an agricultural/forestry contractor in 2026;
- New entrants to agriculture/forestry contracting in 2026 will be considered where they are VAT registered and can provide receipts for green diesel purchased for use in 2026.
According to DAFM under the scheme there will be one payment per applicant to cover a full five-month period rather than monthly payments.
Applicants will be asked to supply their green diesel usage for the 12 months of 2025 based on receipted expenditure.
