AGRICULTURE Minister, Charlie McConalogue, has been asked this week to open up the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme to new applicants.

This week, the Minister confirmed that a 57% advance payment was being made for the 2023 tranche — however, this scheme is currently only open for those who successfully applied in 2022.

Connacht IFA Chair, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that for one reason or another there were a small number of farmers who hadn’t applied for the ’22 scheme but who were now interested in the 2023 one.

“I don’t think that this would involve any large number of farmers but for the small numbers who want to apply in 2023 separately, then I don’t think it should be a big deal to accommodate them,” said Pat Murphy.

Co. Galway topped the ‘national league’ for application numbers in the 2022 scheme with almost 3,200 farmers getting financial assistance up to a maximum of €1,000.

Right across the West of Ireland, the scheme was quite popular with over 2,600 applicants in Mayo; 2,142 in Roscommon; and 1,569 in Clare.

Minister McConalogue, confirmed this week that his Department had commenced payments under the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme to over 67,000 eligible applicants.

“Each farmer will receive an advance payment of 57% of their total payment due in 2023.

“These payments, will further assist farmers in dealing with the increase in agricultural input costs and in particular for chemical fertiliser,” said the Minister.

He added that the initial budget for the Fodder Support Scheme is €30 million — payable at a rate of €100 per hectare

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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