Fears are mounting that the majority of farmers will be excluded from a key energy support scheme to be announced in next week’s budget.

Farmers were already explicitly excluded from an EU energy scheme announced last Monday. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed a second scheme for farm businesses to the Irish Farmers Journal on Wednesday, to “help with electricity bills” in the coming months.

However, up to 90% of farmers may be excluded from the scheme if “farm businesses” means limited companies only.

Over 90% of farmers operate as sole traders.

A low-cost loan scheme is also in the works, which Varadkar said will be “open to farmers” and will be similar to previous Brexit and COVID-19 loan schemes.

The Tillage Incentive Scheme will be rolled over, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirming that €10m will be provided in 2023.

There is also an “enhanced package” of funding for multispecies swards on the way, with this year’s Fodder Support Scheme also likely to get the green light for 2023.