The Protein Aid Scheme payment has become a really important source of income for tillage farmers and now livestock farmers growing protein or cereal mix crops.

It has performed an important role in helping to increase protein crop area. Before its implementation, the protein crop area was at 3,500ha in 2014. That did not include protein cereal mix crops.

Official figures are still to come from the Department of Agriculture on crop areas. However, current crop area estimates from Goldcrop place the total protein area at 19,800ha.

This protein area is broken down as:

  • Winter beans: 400ha.
  • Spring beans: 16,000ha.
  • Peas: 900ha.
  • Protein cereal/mix crops: 2,500ha.

    • Lupins are also eligible for the protein aid payment, but take up less than 10ha.

    Budget

    Going on these figures and a budget of €7m, this brings the protein payment to an estimated €377/ha. The protein/cereal mix crops are paid 50% of the total protein payment. That brings that payment to an estimated €188.50/ha.

    Last year, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue increased the Protein Aid Scheme’s budget to bring up the payment to the original estimates from the start of the CAP in 2023.

    Predicted payments

    In 2022, the Department of Agriculture outlined estimates for the protein area and payments. The 2023 area was estimated at 12,007ha and a payment of €583/ha.

    The area was much bigger at 18,239ha, so the payment was due to be approximately €384/ha.

    However, the Minister decided to pay out €583/ha, the original prediction. If this happens in 2024 - which we must stress may not happen - then the payment would be €500/ha. This was based on a predicted area of 14,000ha for 2024.

    The addition of the protein/cereal mix crops to the protein aid measure has resulted in the addition of a significant number of acres to the scheme.

    Many of these acres are on livestock farms, so the scheme - which is outlined as a tillage scheme by the Department of Agriculture - is seeing payments dilute due to this addition.

    Compliance

    It is important that farmers who enter into this scheme comply with the requirements.

    Many crops were planted in late May and June this season. These crops must be harvested to benefit from the scheme.

    A situation where there are large numbers of farmers who are not in compliance with the scheme is not good.