Forty sheep needed for TAMS sheep fencing

Clarification on TAMS II sheep fencing eligibility criteria has come from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed in recent days.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Deputy Brendan Smith in the Dáil last Thursday, the Minister said that farmers must show proof that they possess a minimum of 40 sheep (ewes or store lambs) before approval for payment on works completed will be sanctioned.

The minister also added: “As required under all TAMS measures, farmers will be required to use the investment for the purposes for which it was intended for a period of five years from the date of payment for the investment”, meaning farmers drawing down grant aid for sheep fencing will need to possess sheep during this period.

This clarity from the minister will help alleviate concerns some farmers had on the matter.

This related to applications made under tranche three, with a number of farmers reporting that they had been told that applications submitted were not eligible for grant aid as they do not possess sheep on the farm.

While possessing sheep was an eligibility criteria in TAMS I, it was not included as a criteria in the terms and conditions of TAMS II when the sheep fencing measure was introduced.

Farmers with concerns or wishing to appeal rejection for TAMS II funding for sheep fencing are still being advised to contact the TAMS section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, On-Farm Investments Division, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford, or call 053-916 5512.

Succession Farm Partnership Scheme

The scheme was originally announced in budget 2016 and was subject to EU state aid approval.

On Tuesday, Minister Creed confirmed that approval has been received from the European Commission and that it would start in early 2017.

The Succession Farm Partnership Scheme provides a €25,000 tax credit over five years to assist with the transfers of farms within a partnership structure.

“This scheme will help to ensure that farming is strategically positioned for future sustainable growth and development. A working group of officials from my Department, Revenue and Teagasc is finalising arrangements with a view to the scheme being available early in 2017,” Minister Creed said on Tuesday.

A tax credit of up to €5,000 per year is available to a partnership that will lead to succession over five years. This is divided among partners in accordance with the profit-sharing ratio specified in the partnership agreement.

This tax credit is available for five years from the date the partnership is registered and is only available to be paid in partnerships where the successor is under 40 years of age.

Animal Welfare Sheep Scheme

Proposals on the new Animal Welfare Sheep Scheme were submitted to Brussels a couple of months ago. The criteria and measures were previously featured in the Irish Farmers Journal.

Payment will be based on a reference year with an average of the ewe numbers submitted in the 2014 and 2015 sheep census likely to be the numbers used in calculating this reference figure. This will set the upper limit on which payment is based, with the current proposal for a lower payment if ewe numbers fall below this reference figure in subsequent years.

Macra na Feirme has requested clarification from Minister Creed and DAFM officials on how young farmers will be accommodated in the new scheme.

President Seán Finan said: “Macra na Feirme is demanding flexibility that young farmer new entrants to sheep, who may not have had sheep during the reference, are accommodated and have access to the scheme. Access to this scheme is of critical importance to young farmers, as the sheep sector is one the most accessible industries from a young farmer’s point of view due to the lower cost of establishment compared with other enterprises.”

DAFM has previously stated that it will accommodate young trained farmers or new entrants and they are looking at mechanisms on how this will work.

Payments update

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) advance payments have now reached 120,000 farmers, with the total paid to date standing at €780m. Balancing payments (30%) will commence from 1 December and any farmers who have not received advance payment before this will then be paid 100%, once cleared for payment. Over €180m has been paid to 87,000 applicants in the ANC.

There is one week left for BDGP participants to complete a carbon navigator before the 30 November deadline. Over 20,000 farmers have already completed one. A list of approved planners can be found on www.agriculture.gov.ie.