Calf Investment Scheme

The Calf Investment Scheme provides grant aid to farmers to help them buy new equipment for the rearing of dairy bred calves.

To qualify for the scheme you must:

• be aged 18 or over
• hold a department herd number
• have a minimum of 5 hectares of “eligible land” declared under the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme

Investments eligible for the scheme include:

• calf teat feeder, computerised calf feeder and milk cart with mixer
• calf milk heater, calf forage and hay rack
• calf meal trough, feed barrier and pen dividers

You must comply with the conditions of the scheme and applications are limited to one per holding. There are minimum specifications for calf rearing equipment and calf housing.

The scheme provides 40% grant aid. The minimum investment required is €1,000 excluding VAT.

The maximum investment eligible for payment is €7,500 per holding excluding VAT, resulting in a payment of €3,000. Expenditure over €7,500 is not covered.

The scheme's overall budget is €4.0m. In the event of oversubscription, the rate of grant aid may be lower than 40%.

Completed applications must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 28 January 2020. You must email the completed application form to cis@agriculture.gov.ie A payment claim form is sent out with approval letters. It must be returned by 30 September 2020.