Farmers who plan on reseeding grassland this year with either red clover or a multi-species sward can avail of a support payment of up to €300/ha.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM's) terms and conditions of the 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other 2025 Area-Based Schemes, farmers can avail of support payments to reseed grassland under two separate measures.

The measures aim to promote more sustainable methods of farming and allow for more environmentally friendly production systems, according to DAFM.

The two measures are as follows:

Red Clover Silage Measure (RCSM);
Multi-Species Swards Measure (MSSM).

The payment is €300/ha, up to a maximum of 20ha/measure/applicant. In the event of oversubscription of the measure, a reduced payment rate on a per hectare basis will apply as appropriate.

The RCSM offers participating farmers a payment of up to €300/ha for the establishment of red clover silage swards.

Land sown with an eligible seed-mix between the dates of July 16, 2024 and and July 15, 2025 will be eligible for payment.

Only seed purchased after July 15, 2024 and before or on July 15, 2025 can receive aid under this measure.

The seed mixture must include 4kg of red clover for each 12kg pack. The balance of the seed mixture must contain either perennial ryegrass or hybrid ryegrasses and may contain some white clover.

All varieties of perennial ryegrasses and any white clover varieties included in the red clover silage mixture must be included on the DAFM Grass and White Clover Recommended List Varieties for Ireland 2025.

The area claimed can be made up of multiple parcels, sub-divisions or plots.

The same payment rates and eligibility dates apply for the MSSM as the RCSM.

Both should be sown at the recommended seeding rates of at least 30kg/ha by July 15 2025 and must be successfully established by September 30, 2025.

The multi-species sward mixture must include six species, and the inclusion rates listed below for each 12kg pack is the minimum requirement:

According to DAFM, additional species may be added If desired in line with good agricultural practices for the establishment of multi-species swards.

DAFM recommends that the total seeding rate should not exceed 35kg/ha.

All varieties of perennial ryegrasses and any white clover varieties included in the multi-species swards mixture must be included on the DAFM Grass and White Clover Recommended List Varieties for Ireland 2025.