There was speculation early this week that there could be changes to the Straw Incorporation Measure this year as the scheme has been oversubscribed for the annual budget.

At the time of going to print the Irish Farmers Journal understands that all applicants to the SIM will be paid, but there has been no confirmation of this.

Calculations from the Irish Farmers Journal reveal that the under-spend of the past two years should cover the record number of applications this year, see above.

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Speaking to this paper, IFA grain chair John Murphy commended tillage farmers for embracing climate targets and said the funding had to be provided for the SIM. He has received many calls from concerned and frustrated farmers this week preparing to harvest crops who do not yet know if they have been accepted into the measure.

Questions

He said if the SIM isn’t funded to accommodate all applicants “it will raise questions about the Government’s commitment to supporting our struggling tillage sector”.

“The Minister should find the money to ensure all applicants are paid at the full rate,” Murphy said.

“In May of this year, in response to a parliamentary question, Taoiseach Micheál Martin accepted that the Government needs to do more to support the tillage sector,” Murphy added and asked him to follow through on that statement.