Minister Heydon announces package to provide support worth €30 million to the tillage sector
- Foilsithe: 24 Feabhra 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 24 Feabhra 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today announced the opening of a new National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme.
Minister Heydon said:
“Tillage farming plays an important role in the sustainability of the agri-food sector as a whole and is recognised as one of the most carbon efficient sectors in Irish agriculture. However, I wish to acknowledge the significant challenges faced by the sector in recent years. Following two particularly difficult years in 2023 and 2024, and more recently a challenging market situation with downward price pressure internationally. This, along with high costs of production, have placed considerable strain on growers’ margins.”
Funding of €30 million 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.
Concluding, the Minister said:
“I secured this funding to help underpin the sector and boost confidence by providing farmers with the necessary financial supports to assist them in the season ahead. The tillage sector is extremely important to this Government, and it is a sector we want to see grow in the years ahead. This scheme demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector and advances the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, as well as a key recommendation in the Food Vision Tillage Group Report regarding the importance of delivering significant supports for the tillage sector.”
Farmers wishing to contact the department regarding the Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme, can ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057 8674422 or email tillage@agriculture.gov.ie
Notes to Editor
All payments will be subject to the EU rules on de minimis aid as laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 3118/2024 regarding de minimis aid in the agricultural production sector.
Online applications can be made via MyAgFood portal with the scheme closing for applications on 9 March 2026.
Eligible crops under the scheme are barley, wheat, oats, rye triticale and oilseed rape.
The eligible crops must have been declared by the applicant on their 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based application.
It is anticipated that payments to applicants will commence issuing before the end of March.
The following degressive rates of payment are applicable.
Terms and Conditions for this scheme are available on the Department’s website.
Farmers can ring the helpdesk at 057 8674422 with any queries they may have or alternatively they can also email tillage@agriculture.gov.ie.