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2025 Red Clover Silage Measure
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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This Measure aims to incentivise farmers to sow red clover silage swards, which will reduce the reliance on nitrogen fertilisers and promote a more sustainable method of farming. A financial contribution will be provided to participating applicants to offset part of the cost that farmers will incur in the establishment of these swards. This measure will build on the areas established under previous programmes 2022-2024. Red Clover due to its Nitrogen fixing ability produces fodder higher in protein than conventional silage and combined with its ability to yield over 14t DM/ha will assist farmers in reducing their concentrate feed bills.
Trial work from Teagasc has shown that mixed swards with high red clover content have the potential to fix 200kg N/ha, which will allow for reduced chemical nitrogen use, while reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions. Different species in the sward will allow for enhanced biodiversity, while the deep tap root will give greater drought tolerance and contribute to improved soil structure.
The 2025 payment is €300 per hectare, to a maximum area of 20 hectares for the establishment of Red Clover Silage mix sown between the16th July 2024 and 15th July 2025. A reduced payment rate per hectare will apply as appropriate if eligible applications exceed the available budget for the Measure.
Application for support must be made through the BISS online application system, with a closing date for applications of 15th May 2025. Following submission of application, applicants be contacted and asked to upload supporting documents (receipts, seed labels) on the BISS online system.
To receive a support under Red Clover Silage Measure, eligible applicants must:
Be a holder of a registered herd number or have applied for a herd number on or before 15th May 2025.
Submit a valid 2025 BISS and other area-based schemes application declaring at least 1 ha of Red Clover Grass Sward. The maximum area payable under the measure is 20ha.
Sow the Red Clover Silage sward mix at the recommended seeding rates of at least 30kg/ha, by 15th July 2025. The Red Clover Silage sward must be successfully established by 30th September 2025.
The seed mixture must include 4kgs of Red Clover for each 12kg pack. The balance of the seed mixture must contain either Perennial Ryegrass or Hybrid Ryegrasses and may contain some White Clover. All varieties of Perennial Ryegrasses and any White Clover varieties included in the Red Clover Silage mixture must be included on the DAFM Grass and White Clover Recommended List Varieties for Ireland 2025 .
Under this measure, Red Clover Silage swards are not permitted to be sown on Commonage land, Natura 2000sites, NHA designated land, Environmentally Sensitive Permanent Grassland or within archaeological monument buffer zones. Areas declared and claimed as sown under the 2022 to 2024 measures are ineligible for payment.
BISS and other 2025 Area Based Schemes - Terms and Conditions
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Red Clover Silage Measure
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