€8.3 million of payments under Straw Incorporation Measure

Payments worth €8.3m began to be issued this week to 1,811 farmers under the 2025 Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).

The rate of payment in the scheme is €250 per hectare for oats, wheat, barley and rye straw and a rate of €150 per hectare for oilseed rape straw.

Commenting on the announcement Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: “Payments under this scheme are to provide financial support for tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from cereal and oilseed rape crops.

“The Straw Incorporation Measure has proved very popular with tillage farmers and 2025 saw a significant increase in the number of hectares applied to be incorporated,” he said.

The Department is advising participants that it may take a few days for payments to be visible in their bank accounts. It adds that further issuing of payments under SIM will take place in the coming weeks as applications are cleared for payment. Farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their payment are advised to ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057-8674422 or email tillage@agriculture.gov.ie.

County breakdown

The SIM is a scheme under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. The scheme is designed to provide financial support for tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from cereal crops.

Table 1 details the number of applicants paid in the first payment run by county and the overall sum paid. Counties in the east of the country dominated payments with Wexford recording the highest number of applications and largest overall payment. Cork was next, followed by Meath.