A decision to accept all applicants for this year's Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) is a "welcome development", the Irish Grain Growers' Group (IGGG) has said.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon confirmed the move earlier today (Tuesday, June 17).

The popular scheme is designed to provide financial support for tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating straw from cereal and oilseed rape crops.

The rate of payment will be €250 per hectare for oats, wheat, rye and barley and €150 for oilseed rape, with a minimum claim of 5ha and maximum claim of 40ha.

3,057 applications for this year's scheme have been received by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) from farmers to date.

James Kelly, chair of IGGG, said that the decision will bring "certainty to tillage farmers before combines start to roll".

"The flexibility within the measure ensures those who are in need of straw for fodder should have access to straw if they request their order on time.

"The move by Minister Heydon is in line with the government's own Climate Action Plan on straw incorporation," he said.

"Tillage farmers see the benefit of incorporating straw - increasing biomass, improving soil health, storing carbon , reducing chemical fertiliser requirements, making soil more resilient to weather events while producing a lower carbon footprint native Irish grain, which unfortunately the industry is not financially rewarding yet," Kelly added.

The IGGG pre-budget submission seeks to have the annual fund available for SIM moved from €10 million to €15 million going forward.