Schemes
The number of investments approved under the current Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) has surpassed 44,000.
Minister Heydon has announced that balancing payments in respect of 2025 have started to issue to farmers participating in the ACRES.
Beef
The Department has issued a reminder for farmers that there is "flexibility" available under concentrate crude protein limits in animal feed.
Minister Heydon has announced a new €6 million on-farm badger biosecurity scheme as part of the new TB Action Plan.
Agri-Business
The government is working on finalising a "significant and substantial" support package to address spiralling fuel prices.
Stakeholders in a high-stakes meeting have been told that there will be no supports put forward on fuel prices until blockades end.
Agri Politics
Confusion over whether or not a key meeting of agri-sector stakeholders would include protesters in Dublin seems to be now cleared up.
Dairy
Significant changes to the animal movement regime under new TB control measures will come into effect from Monday (April 13).
Pig/Poultry
Bird cages and a "vast array" of controlled medication and imported illegal substances were recovered at the site of alleged cock fighting.
The MREF has slammed the Department of Agriculture for moving to exclude domestic dwellings from the solar PV measure under TAMS.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is looking to hire temporary veterinary inspectors for its meat inspection services.
Tillage
Minister Heydon has announced the start of payments totalling €29.1 million under the new National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme.
The department has confirmed that there will be an exemption under requirements related to the arable fallow action of ACRES.
The total number of application approvals issued under the current TAMS since it commenced in 2023 has now surpassed 43,000.
The IFA has said that the Department of Agriculture will "simplify" some of the procedures around prescribing bluetongue virus vaccines.
There are further calls for the calculation of limits on slurry imports to be based on the preceding year's figures.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is being called on to make bluetongue vaccines available in smaller quantities.
Forestry
SEEFA, the forestry association, has welcomed the publication of the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
Minister of State for forestry Michael Healy-Rae has announced the results of the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
The proposed review of Bord Bia will examine the eligibility for membership of the agency's board and for the appointment of its chairperson.
Minister Martin Heydon has announced that payments for scheme year two of a key dairy beef scheme are underway.
Farm organisations are understood to be concerned over a potential drop in carcass weights if the age at slaughter decreases.
The department has issued an official reminder for key dates and details for actions for the Co-operation Project (CP) stream of ACRES.
