Payments under the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) are to begin from 16 December according to the Department of Agriculture.
In total, there were 2,954 applications to the scheme in 2025.
The Department told the Irish Farmers Journal that 228 of those applicants withdrew from the scheme. Applicants could withdraw from the scheme right up to harvest to ensure that if customers became available for straw, they would be accommodated.
This means a total of 2,726 applicants have to be examined. Applications under the SIM for 2025 are still being processed.
As a result, the Department could not detail if there was non-compliance with the scheme this year. In 2024, there was one incident of non-compliance.
The Department said non-compliance is: “Where it is found that actions have not been complete, the determined area for the parcel(s) will be reduced to zero and no payment will issue. Thereafter, penalties applied in accordance with section 16 of the 2025 BISS terms and conditions shall be applied.”
In June, the Department reported that 66,482ha had been entered into the scheme from 3,057 applicants. However, these were not final figures.
Crop areas applied for in SIM in 2025
Winter wheat – 13,677.12.Winter barley – 3,676.18.Winter oats – 10,494.52.Spring wheat – 2,010.15.Spring barley – 16,990.06.Spring oats – 9,937.31.Rye – 528.86.Winter oilseed rape – 8,777.75.Spring oilseed rape – 390.22.Payment
In June, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon announced that all applicants would be accepted into the scheme. Farmers are paid €250/ha for cereal straw and €150ha for oilseed rape.
Payments under the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) are to begin from 16 December according to the Department of Agriculture.
In total, there were 2,954 applications to the scheme in 2025.
The Department told the Irish Farmers Journal that 228 of those applicants withdrew from the scheme. Applicants could withdraw from the scheme right up to harvest to ensure that if customers became available for straw, they would be accommodated.
This means a total of 2,726 applicants have to be examined. Applications under the SIM for 2025 are still being processed.
As a result, the Department could not detail if there was non-compliance with the scheme this year. In 2024, there was one incident of non-compliance.
The Department said non-compliance is: “Where it is found that actions have not been complete, the determined area for the parcel(s) will be reduced to zero and no payment will issue. Thereafter, penalties applied in accordance with section 16 of the 2025 BISS terms and conditions shall be applied.”
In June, the Department reported that 66,482ha had been entered into the scheme from 3,057 applicants. However, these were not final figures.
Crop areas applied for in SIM in 2025
Winter wheat – 13,677.12.Winter barley – 3,676.18.Winter oats – 10,494.52.Spring wheat – 2,010.15.Spring barley – 16,990.06.Spring oats – 9,937.31.Rye – 528.86.Winter oilseed rape – 8,777.75.Spring oilseed rape – 390.22.Payment
In June, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon announced that all applicants would be accepted into the scheme. Farmers are paid €250/ha for cereal straw and €150ha for oilseed rape.
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