Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 March 2022
183. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tillage farmers can increase the acreage of corn and access the new tillage scheme by growing corn on land previously under maize, beat or other crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16976/22]
View answerThe Targeted Intervention Package I announced on 22nd March is framed around three pillars which seek to support our vital Irish farming families arising both from events in Ukraine and wider global price volatility. The total package is projected to cost in the region of €12.2 million.
The package seeks to incentivise the planting of additional tillage crops for this coming planting season through the Tillage Incentive Scheme. It is proposed to encourage farmers to grow more tillage crops in 2022 versus 2021.
For crops to be eligible, the land must not have been in tillage production in 2021. Eligible crops include the cereal crops barley, wheat, oats etc., oilseed rape, maize, beet and potatoes. A payment of €400 per hectare is proposed. The proposed budget for the Scheme is €10 million and is aimed at encouraging an additional 25,000 hectares of tillage crops.
In order for farmers to be eligible there must be an increase in the area grown to the eligible crops in 2022 versus 2021 and secondly the land must not have been in tillage production in 2021 e.g. grassland or fallow land. Land that was previously in maize, beet or other crops is ineligible for the Scheme.
