Farming News
The latest farming news, events and scheme updates from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
06 March
Scheme payments are now available to view for the period up to 06 March.
05 March
Movement of cattle and sheep, for production and breeding, between Ireland and Northern Ireland can recommence from Friday, 6 March, 2026.
Since Ireland confirmed its first case of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 (BTV3) in January 2026, only movements of cattle and sheep direct to slaughter have been allowed as certification requirements could not be met. A derogation from certain certification requirements is being put in place which will allow cattle and sheep to move with no restrictions from other member states where BTV3 is the only serotype present, as is the case in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Launch of Open Call for Farmer Safety, Health and Wellbeing Projects
04 March
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister of State for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD, have launched an Open Call for Farmer Safety, Health and Wellbeing Projects.
Update for participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES)
04 March
Farmers who are participating in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) will again be using the Area Monitoring System (AMS) to ensure that farmers in area-based schemes, one of which is ACRES, have met their eligibility requirements for 2026.
Minister Heydon confirms application of Ranking and Selection to TAMS 3 Tranche 10
03 March
Ranking and selection will continue to be applied to applications received in the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3). Similar to Tranche 9, ranking and selection will be applied to Tranche 10 on a differentiated basis, with priority given to applications under farm safety and nutrient storage schemes.
All-island approach to equine traceability
02 March
Equine operators in Ireland have been required to quote an equine premises registration number (EPRN) when applying for an equine passport since 2020. From 1 February 2026, this requirement now also applies to operators in Northern Ireland. Applicants for equine passports resident in Northern Ireland will need to provide an Equine Establishment Number (EEN).
27 February
Interim Bovine N & P Statements for the period 1 January to 31 December 2025 have been published on the Department’s online system, www.myagfood.ie. Following consultation, the Department is amending its approach for calculating ovine nitrates production at farm level.
New Central Equine Database marks turning point as Wall Report Action Plan delivers rapid progress
27 February
The latest progress report in the implementation of the Department’s Wall Report Action Plan has been published showing that rapid progress has been made with 23 of the 31 actions scheduled for completion in 2025 now delivered, and the remaining eight actions well advanced and on track for completion in 2026.
24 February
Funding has been allocated in budget 2026 for a new tillage support scheme. This scheme will provide for a degressive rate of payment to applicants who declared cereal and oilseed rape crops on their 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based application.
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2027 Public Consultation
24 February
A consultation on the CAP post-2027 will be open for a four-week period and will provide stakeholders and members of the public with an opportunity to contribute to Ireland’s position as negotiations on the next CAP progress at EU level.
Payments commence under the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme
23 February
Payments for scheme year two of the CAP Strategic Plan Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme have commenced. The Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme provides support to dairy farmers to improve the animal health and welfare of the national dairy herd by using better genetic merit beef sires. This is the second year of the scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan.
International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador competition launched
06 February
The competition is being run by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) by the United Nations General Assembly. Applications are open until 12 February 2026 and can be submitted on the Department’s website.
06 February
Landscape Actions approval letters issuing to ACRES Co-operation Project farmers
28 January
Farmers in Ireland’s flagship agri-environment scheme will shortly begin work on large-scale actions to improve the landscape in some of Ireland’s most environmentally sensitive areas.
Detection of bluetongue virus in Wexford
24 January
Its been confirmed that an outbreak of bluetongue has been detected in Co Wexford.
For more information and updates please visit Bluetongue Virus
Ireland’s freedom from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
23 January
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Ireland’s self-declaration of freedom from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses (HPAI) in poultry
22 January
Its been announced that participants in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) now have access to amend their 2026 yearly reference number, should they wish to do so.
21 January
The benefits accruing at national level from the voluntary participation of farmers in Ireland’s flagship agri-environment scheme Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) over the last three years have been highlighted .
Registered Farm Partnerships Information and Dates
19 January
Important information and key dates for 2026 regarding registered farm partnerships are now available.
Key nitrates deadlines for 2025
22 December
Farmers reminded of some key nitrates deadlines for 2025, for the more information please visit Key nitrates deadlines for 2025.
19 December
The facility to submit applications for the replacement of roofs under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) is now open ,for the more information please visit applications for the replacement of roofs under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3).
€55.15 million in payments issuing under the Organic Farming Scheme
08 December
More than €55.15 million is issuing to 4,858 farmers as the 2025 payments for the Organic Farming Scheme beginning 08 December.
More information can be found here.
€47.06 million in payments under the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme has commenced
05 December
Payments for year three of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) have begun. In total, over €47.06 million has commenced issuing to some 14,983 participating farmers which represents over 94% of current SCEP participants.
More information may be found here
Update for participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES)
04 December
The deadline for the submission of claims in respect of the implementation of approved NPIs (where the deadline for such submission was stated as 31 December 2025, in the associated decision letter) has been extended to Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
More information can be found here
Housing Order for poultry to protect against bird flu risk
05 November
The introduction of a compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds, to protect them from the risk of avian influenza has been announced . The new rules will come into effect on Monday 10 November 2025.
Further information, including a detailed technical update, is available at gov.ie/birdflu.
Farm Hazardous Waste Collections 2025
05 November
As a recommendation of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 (NHWMP), DAFM and DCEE in conjunction with stakeholders are facilitating six Farm Hazardous Waste Collections during November and December 2025.
More information can be found at here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak confirmed in commercial turkey flock in Co. Carlow
04 November
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock in County Carlow has been announced. As a consequence, restriction zones have been put in place around the holding (a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone).
Further information avian influenza can be found on the Government website at www.gov.ie/birdflu.
09 September
We have published our Annual Report 2024, which sets out the main achievements and activities undertaken by this Department in 2024.
- Published on: 17 January 2025
- Last updated on: 6 March 2026