Payments under the Protein Aid Scheme started issuing to farmers today, Minister Simon Coveney has confirmed. The scheme was introduced as a coupled support for 2015, with the funding derived from the national envelope allocated to Ireland from the EU.

The €3m fund, set aside to encourage greater production of protein crops in Ireland, was targeted at payments of €250/ha per farmer. However, the scheme was slightly undersubscribed, allowing the Department of Agriculture to increase the rate payable under the scheme to €280/ha.

“The €3m set aside for this scheme is an important support for the production of protein crops in Ireland. I recently announced that the rate payable under this scheme had been increased to €280/ha and this support will now work to underpin growth in the sector and to provide a more consistent supply of Irish-grown protein,” commented Minister Coveney.

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The crop predominantly produced under the scheme by growers is beans, with peas and lupins also accepted as part of the scheme. The Protein Aid Scheme is widely perceived by the industry to have oversupplied demand for protein crops in Ireland.

There are fears over the supply and demand dynamic for next year and the dampening effect this may have on prices.