Reduction of supports across some schemes draws criticism
The decision by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to end or restrict some supports across a number of schemes has drawn criticism.
In recent days and weeks, it has been confirmed that a number of supports available to farmers have either come to an end, or access to them has been restricted.
The Multispecies Sward Scheme and Red Clover Scheme, which have been available to farmers in previous years, were not included as an option for farmers when applications opened last month for the the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
As well as that, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon confirmed this week that ranking and selection will apply for applications made under tranche 10 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).
The Irish Farmer's Association (IFA) has called on the government to "stop withdrawing key supports".
John Curran, the association's rural development chairperson, said that the farmers who had been benefitting from those supports were working to boost on-farm environmental sustainability and protect water quality.
"Farmers are always in the spotlight when it comes to where we are on our environmental journey, given its economic importance nationally," Curran said.
He added: "Recent EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] reports show that improvements are being made, but it's not the time for government to be diluting available supports.
"It's strengthening what we have to build on the momentum that's needed.
"The popular liming scheme has been discontinued without replacement. In recent weeks, both the Multispecies Sward Scheme and Red Clover Scheme, which were 'under review' per Budget 2026, have been removed from the 2026 BISS applications without notice," Curran said.
He added: "We heard that rank and selection will be applied to tranche 10 of TAMS, with lower ambition for key climate initiatives.
"Now, only one in ten solar applications will be approved and support will be reduced to only on-farm consumption.
"Similarly, only one-in-ten low emission slurry spreading [LESS] applications will be approved," Curran noted.
According to the IFA, the selection limit of 60% under the TAMS Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme is even more of a concern.
John Murphy, IFA environment chairperson, said: "This absolutely flies in the face of commitments this government has given to help farmers put in additional slurry storage to help protect water quality."
Murphy added: "Given prevailing uncertainty and price pressure across many farm sectors, a hit to these supports will discourage farmers from undertaking key on-farm investments.
"It's sending the wrong message."
"We have to support farmers who want to carry out investments in these key areas. Instead, the department seems intent on doing the opposite," he said.
Murphy called for other government departments that are "getting the benefits" from on-farm solar investments to "pony up" to make up the shortfall in the Department of Agriculture for these investments in TAMS.
John Curran commented: "It can't always fall back on the farmers that they aren't doing enough, especially when political decisions are being made to erode key financial supports in this space."
