A key closing date for certain applications for the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) has been extended until nearly midnight next Friday (March 13).

It has been confirmed that the closing date for receipt of applications for Tranche 11 of TAMS 3 has been extended to 23:59 next Friday "for unsuccessful TAMS 3 applications that were submitted in Tranche 9". 

This only applies to applications that "were not selected in Tranche 9 or 10 and have now reverted to draft". 

It is understood "this extended closing date does not apply to new applications". 

Meanwhile "applications that were submitted in Tranche 10 that were not selected in the tranche will automatically rollover into Tranche 11. 

It is also understood that "no further action is required in respect of these cases".

TAMS

Earlier this week the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon confirmed that ranking and selection will continue to be applied to applications received in TAMS 3.

Similar to tranche 9, the minister said that priority will be given to applications under farm safety and nutrient storage schemes.

7,906 applications were received by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) for tranche 10, which closed on December 5.

This brings the total number of applications received in the first ten tranches under TAMS 3 to 59,302.

According to Minister Heydon TAMS 3 "continues to be a very successful scheme, with payments of almost €139 million issued to farmers to invest in their holdings".

However he also stated: "Being mindful of the budgetary constraints, I have decided, similar to tranche 9, to apply ranking and selection to tranche 10, due to the huge number of applications received, which is three times the number received over the equivalent period of TAMS 2.

"In taking this decision, I have ensured that, despite increased numbers of applications, there will be a similar number of applications approved for nutrient storage investments as was the case in tranche 9".