Minister Heydon announces €32.4 million of payments under the Tillage and Horticulture Support scheme

Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today announced payments totalling €32.4 million have commenced issuing to farmers under the Tillage and Horticulture Support scheme.

Minister Heydon commented: “Last spring, Government recognised the difficult position tillage and horticultural farmers found themselves in due to exceptionally poor weather and continued high input costs. The tillage and horticultural sectors are exceptionally important to the Irish agri-food sector, and we wanted to ensure that supports were in place to assist farmers. As part of Budget 2025, funding was secured to deliver on the Government’s commitment for a €100 per hectare payment to support tillage and horticulture growers who planted crops for the 2024 harvest”.

Payment of €100 per hectare will be made on eligible tillage and horticulture crops that were declared on farmers’ 2024 BISS applications. These payments will be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days.

The Minister said: “The tillage sector is an integral part of the Agri-food industry, and I am committed to stabilising and increasing the tillage area over the coming years. The Food Vision Tillage Group sets out a roadmap for growing the sector and a recent meeting of the Group focused on the work that is ongoing to progress its actions”.

Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae TD, added: “The National Horticulture Strategy requires a strong and solid foundation from which to grow the horticulture industry. This financial support package is critical in ensuring the ongoing economic viability of the sector and ensuring its future survival”.

Concluding, Minister Heydon said: “These payments are an important support and both Minister Healy-Rae and I will continue to work with and support these sectors.”

Farmers wishing to contact the department regarding their Tillage and Horticulture Support Scheme payments, can ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057-8674422 or by email to tillage@agriculture.gov.ie