Farms have become busier places to work. Ongoing expansion in dairying and challenges in accessing labour has increased the workload and stress levels around peak periods such as calving. A continued move to part-time farming in other sectors, driven by profitability concerns, is increasing total hours worked and leaving a shorter time frame to complete important tasks.
Regular investment on farms is vital not only in improving the efficiency with which tasks can be undertaken, but also in improving safety. Investments in animal handling equipment or new animal housing will obviously improve facilities but there are numerous other areas where existing facilities can be improved while bringing about significant improvements in safety.
The installation of external agitation points to replace roofed access points is one important example, while other remedial works such as rewiring of sheds and installing new lighting can make a huge difference where more work is carried out under the cover of darkness.
Internal agitation points pose significant risks to humans and animal health. The TAMS grants provides funding to install new external agitation points.
Unfortunately, many farm enterprises are not in a good position to fund significant investments. The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) provides an opportunity for grant aid of 40% to 60% on a diverse range of investments with many coming under a heading where farm accidents are also high. Part of the Rural Development Programme 2014 to 2020 and co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, TAMS provides €395m in funding over the course of the programme.
Funding is broken down into seven schemes. These include the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS), Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES), Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS), Low-Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme (LESS), Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS), Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) and the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS). The TCIS was the latest addition, beginning in March 2017 with an allocation of €26m.
The funding model provides for investment opportunities throughout the lifetime of the programme. It works on a tranche system whereby applications can be submitted in three-month time scales. These time scales are similar for all scheme headings apart from the TCIS and are detailed in Table 1.
If a tranche is oversubscribed, which has occurred in the latest tranche, applications will be scored and given priority, with those not approved given the opportunity to carry over into the next tranche. Applications for approval of grant aid and for payment of completed investments must be made online through the Department of Agriculture Agfood facility. This can be carried out by the farmer or via an adviser or consultant.
Grant aid rates
The YFCIS has the highest grant of 60% payable on eligible investments for trained farmers. There is an allowance for young farmers who have not yet received their educational qualification to apply for the higher rate of 60%. If this is not achieved within three years of submitting the application, the 20% top-up will not be paid. Young trained farmers can also receive the higher rate of grant aid in other schemes where there is no crossover to the YFCIS, such as the organics scheme for example.
Replacing old wiring and installing new lights is important where work will be carried out under the cover of darkness.
There are a number of scenarios where questions regularly arise. For example, a young trained farmer farming on their father or mother’s herd number is not eligible. The Department says applications for the YFCIS can only be accepted from:
Individuals farming in their own right, ie with their own herd number.Companies where one of the directors is an eligible young farmer.From groups of persons that have formed a partnership recorded on this Department’s Register of Farm Partnerships.Grant aid thresholds
The minimum level of eligible investment for an application to be considered is €2,000. This applies to all schemes with the exception of LESS and is calculated exclusive of VAT. Therefore, where applications may be for lower cost items such as a head scoop or EID stick readers, they will need to be combined with other items that bring the eligible cost above the minimum €2,000 threshold. The minimum investment for the LESS scheme is €5,000.
The minimum investment is €2,000 for most schemes meaning items such as a head scoop for example may need to be combined with other equipment.
Each item has a reference cost which is listed at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/tams/. When an application for payment is being made, the figure used for calculations is the lower of the receipted cost or the reference cost for that item.
The maximum grant available varies depending on the type of application. For the YFCIS or OCIS the Department advises that an individual applicant can receive 60% grant aid on investments up to the ceiling of €80,000. In the case of a limited company where one of the directors is a qualified young farmer, the maximum grant amount payable is 60% on investments up to the ceiling of €80,000.
With regards partnerships, if there is one eligible young farmer in the partnership the Department advises “grant-aid will be calculated at 60% of the first €80,000, with the remaining €80,000 balance at 40%. If there are two eligible young farmers in the partnership the grant aid will be calculated at 60% of €160,000. If there are no eligible young farmers in the partnership, the grant-aid will be calculated at 40% of €160,000.”
Outside of this, the maximum grant amount payable for an individual applicant or company is 40% on investments up to the ceiling of €80,000.
Low-emission slurry spreading
The LESS scheme has its own rates. The minimum threshold of €5,000 was mentioned previously while the maximum grant amount payable for an individual is 40% on investments up to the ceiling of €40,000. For registered partnerships, the maximum grant amount payable for two or more eligible partners is 40% on investments up to the ceiling of €60,000. In order to avail of investments at the 60% grant, you must apply under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme or the Young Farmer Section of Organics Capital Investment Scheme and satisfy the eligibility criteria of these schemes. The Department adds that applications in respect of the LESS do not affect the ceilings of the other schemes.
Farms have become busier places to work. Ongoing expansion in dairying and challenges in accessing labour has increased the workload and stress levels around peak periods such as calving. A continued move to part-time farming in other sectors, driven by profitability concerns, is increasing total hours worked and leaving a shorter time frame to complete important tasks.
Regular investment on farms is vital not only in improving the efficiency with which tasks can be undertaken, but also in improving safety. Investments in animal handling equipment or new animal housing will obviously improve facilities but there are numerous other areas where existing facilities can be improved while bringing about significant improvements in safety.
The installation of external agitation points to replace roofed access points is one important example, while other remedial works such as rewiring of sheds and installing new lighting can make a huge difference where more work is carried out under the cover of darkness.
Internal agitation points pose significant risks to humans and animal health. The TAMS grants provides funding to install new external agitation points.
Unfortunately, many farm enterprises are not in a good position to fund significant investments. The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) provides an opportunity for grant aid of 40% to 60% on a diverse range of investments with many coming under a heading where farm accidents are also high. Part of the Rural Development Programme 2014 to 2020 and co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, TAMS provides €395m in funding over the course of the programme.
Funding is broken down into seven schemes. These include the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS), Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES), Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS), Low-Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme (LESS), Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS), Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) and the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS). The TCIS was the latest addition, beginning in March 2017 with an allocation of €26m.
The funding model provides for investment opportunities throughout the lifetime of the programme. It works on a tranche system whereby applications can be submitted in three-month time scales. These time scales are similar for all scheme headings apart from the TCIS and are detailed in Table 1.
If a tranche is oversubscribed, which has occurred in the latest tranche, applications will be scored and given priority, with those not approved given the opportunity to carry over into the next tranche. Applications for approval of grant aid and for payment of completed investments must be made online through the Department of Agriculture Agfood facility. This can be carried out by the farmer or via an adviser or consultant.
Grant aid rates
The YFCIS has the highest grant of 60% payable on eligible investments for trained farmers. There is an allowance for young farmers who have not yet received their educational qualification to apply for the higher rate of 60%. If this is not achieved within three years of submitting the application, the 20% top-up will not be paid. Young trained farmers can also receive the higher rate of grant aid in other schemes where there is no crossover to the YFCIS, such as the organics scheme for example.
Replacing old wiring and installing new lights is important where work will be carried out under the cover of darkness.
There are a number of scenarios where questions regularly arise. For example, a young trained farmer farming on their father or mother’s herd number is not eligible. The Department says applications for the YFCIS can only be accepted from:
Individuals farming in their own right, ie with their own herd number.Companies where one of the directors is an eligible young farmer.From groups of persons that have formed a partnership recorded on this Department’s Register of Farm Partnerships.Grant aid thresholds
The minimum level of eligible investment for an application to be considered is €2,000. This applies to all schemes with the exception of LESS and is calculated exclusive of VAT. Therefore, where applications may be for lower cost items such as a head scoop or EID stick readers, they will need to be combined with other items that bring the eligible cost above the minimum €2,000 threshold. The minimum investment for the LESS scheme is €5,000.
The minimum investment is €2,000 for most schemes meaning items such as a head scoop for example may need to be combined with other equipment.
Each item has a reference cost which is listed at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/tams/. When an application for payment is being made, the figure used for calculations is the lower of the receipted cost or the reference cost for that item.
The maximum grant available varies depending on the type of application. For the YFCIS or OCIS the Department advises that an individual applicant can receive 60% grant aid on investments up to the ceiling of €80,000. In the case of a limited company where one of the directors is a qualified young farmer, the maximum grant amount payable is 60% on investments up to the ceiling of €80,000.
With regards partnerships, if there is one eligible young farmer in the partnership the Department advises “grant-aid will be calculated at 60% of the first €80,000, with the remaining €80,000 balance at 40%. If there are two eligible young farmers in the partnership the grant aid will be calculated at 60% of €160,000. If there are no eligible young farmers in the partnership, the grant-aid will be calculated at 40% of €160,000.”
Outside of this, the maximum grant amount payable for an individual applicant or company is 40% on investments up to the ceiling of €80,000.
Low-emission slurry spreading
The LESS scheme has its own rates. The minimum threshold of €5,000 was mentioned previously while the maximum grant amount payable for an individual is 40% on investments up to the ceiling of €40,000. For registered partnerships, the maximum grant amount payable for two or more eligible partners is 40% on investments up to the ceiling of €60,000. In order to avail of investments at the 60% grant, you must apply under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme or the Young Farmer Section of Organics Capital Investment Scheme and satisfy the eligibility criteria of these schemes. The Department adds that applications in respect of the LESS do not affect the ceilings of the other schemes.
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