The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued payments worth a total of over €2.4 million across various farm schemes this week.
The latest data, published by the department, shows that the majority of the payments (€2.1 million) made in the week up to Friday (January 17) related to the 2024 Eco-scheme.
The figures shows that 115,612 farmers have now been issued almost €298 million under the scheme.
The Eco-scheme was introduced for the first time as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
The voluntary annual scheme issues payments to farmers for undertaking specific agricultural practices on their farms.
DAFM
The latest data shows that over €166,000 was paid this week to farmers participating in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
4,513 farmers in the scheme have now received a total of €46.6 million.
There was also a further €83,000 issued to farmers in the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). The 2024 scheme has now seen €5.2 million paid out to 1,244 farmers.
While an additional €40,453 was issued to those participating in the Protein Aid Scheme.
This voluntary measure supports the growing of protein crops to counter act the dependence on imported protein for use in animal feeds.
Almost €32,000 was paid out this week to farmers in the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3).
5,854 payment applications for TAMS 3 have been submitted to the department, with 4,110 payments worth a total of €36.5 million made.
The data shows that the department issued no further payments this week for the 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complimentary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS).
To date, 117,993 farmers have received a total of €829 million under the schemes.
The department noted that this figure includes the 2024 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (€33.5 million) and the 2024 National Reserve of (€2.7 million).