Just in excess of 2,500 herds applied for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) in 2022, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Applications are now being processed for a total crop area of just over 52,000ha.

The SIM – which was introduced as a pilot scheme in 2021 – provides a payment for chopping straw and incorporating it into the soil.

Payments are only issued on at least 5ha but on no more than 40ha, and there is an overall budget of €15 million for this scheme in 2022.

The payment rate is €250/ha for cereal straw from barley, wheat, oats and rye; and €150/ha for oilseed rape straw.

Last December, €8 million was paid to 1,700 tillage farmers who applied for the scheme in 2021

In order to qualify for the scheme, farmers must be cultivating any or all of the following crops which must be declared on their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application:

Another condition is that as soon as possible after the crops have been harvested, the straw must be chopped, spread evenly and incorporated into the soil.

The total area/crop for 2022 is set out in the table below.

The DAFM has said that these areas are subject to change as the processing of applications will continue for a number of months prior to payments issuing.