Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has today (Wednesday, May 13) officially opened the new On-Farm Badger Biosecurity Scheme.

The new €6 million scheme, part of the government’s wider bovine tuberculosis (bTB) action plan, is aimed at helping farmers put additional biosecurity measures in place on their farms.

Under the scheme, farmers can receive grant support towards the cost of fencing off badger setts and buying specialised feed and water troughs designed to reduce contact between badgers and cattle.

Applications for the scheme must be submitted by email to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The scheme will remain open for applications until May 31, 2026.

Badger Biosecurity Scheme

According to DAFM, best practice on-farm biosecurity is the most effective measure available to reduce the risk of bovine TB transmission between badgers and cattle.

Under the scheme, farmers can apply for grant aid of 40% on approved biosecurity materials, up to a maximum eligible spend of €2,000, excluding VAT.

The minimum amount of investment eligible for approval under this scheme is €500, excluding VAT per herdowner.

The department said there is a maximum of 7,500 eligible applications allowed under this scheme which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

To qualify, applicants must have submitted a 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application and have cattle on their holding this year.

Farmers will be issued an approval letter from the department following an examination of their eligibility.

Once approval is granted, farmers will be able to purchase approved materials from participating co-ops and agri-retailers between July 1 and August 31, 2026.

Only purchases from approved co-ops/agri-merchants will be considered for support under the scheme.

A list of eligible co-ops and agri-merchants will be published on the department’s website, with more co-ops and agri-merchants expected to join this week.

Action plan

Minister Heydon said this scheme will "allow farmers to reduce the risk posed by badgers in the spread of bTB by assisting in the cost of improving on-farm badger biosecurity measures".

He said a "key action" under the Bovine TB Action Plan is to reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB.

"The bTB action plan sets out how we will tackle the three main ways in which bTB spreads: by movement of infected cattle, by the reoccurrence of residual infection in herds which had outbreaks in the past, and by infected badgers.

"I have taken steps to address each of these, as I am determined to reduce the levels of this disease and the numbers of farm families having to deal with the stress and worry of an outbreak," the minister said.

TB

Minister of State and leader in Cabinet of the independent ministers, Seán Canney, has welcomed the opening of the scheme.

Minister Canney said bovine TB continues to place huge strain on farm families, both financially and emotionally.

"This scheme is about giving farmers practical support to help reduce risk on their farms and protect their herds.

"Farmers are already doing huge work around biosecurity and herd management every day.

"Measures like this can make a real difference in helping to limit the spread of disease and reduce the worry many families face when dealing with TB restrictions," he added.