Details of new baling payment published by DAFM
Choose Payment To Sim Straw Whether Will New This Under Funding The Or Allow By Chopping Baling Under Farmers Baling To Receive It By Assistance
The Department of Agriculture has published details of its new Baling Assistance Payment for 2024.
It will be available to farmers as an additional scheme to bolster fodder supplies which will run in tandem with the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).
This will allow farmers to choose whether to receive funding by chopping straw under SIM or by baling it under the new Baling Assistance Payment.
Any 2024 eligible SIM participant can apply for the payment and information on how to apply will issue to all SIM applicants shortly, the department confirmed.
SIM applicants will have to notify the department in writing of their wish to withdraw SIM-eligible parcels at which point they will be provided the option to apply for the new baling payment.
The application form and terms and conditions will be issued directly to the SIM applicant on notification of a SIM parcel withdrawal.
All eligible crops on parcels applied on for the baling payment must be harvested and thereafter the straw baled.
Applicants must also provide geotagged photos of the baled straw in the parcels under which they are applying for the baling payment.
The minimum eligible area for application will be one hectare up to a maximum of the SIM 40-hectare limit.
Payment is set at €175 per hectare for SIM-eligible parcels withdrawn from the SIM scheme where the straw has been baled.
This new baling payment was announced last week by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, after a week of farmer frustration.
He also confirmed the SIM would go ahead in 2024, after his controversial proposal to suspend it.
