Launch of Dairy Equipment Scheme under TAMS II
The Dairy Equipment Scheme under TAMS II was launched by Minister Coveney in recent days. TAMS II is co-funded under the Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) and is allocated a total budget of €395 million. The Dairy Equipment Scheme has an indicative budget of €50 million over the full RDP period.
The Dairy Equipment Scheme scheme offers a grant rate of 40% for eligible farmers. The maximum amount available is capped at 40% of €80,000 per holding. The minimum amount of investment is €2,000 per application.
Farmers between the age of 18 and 40 and crucially those set up in farming within the previous five years can apply for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, which offers a superior grant rate of 60%.
The specific areas of investment covered under the Dairy Equipment Scheme include milking machines, milk cooling and storage equipment, water heating and in parlour feeding systems.
The first tranche of the scheme is open for three months, closing in early October. The Department of Agriculture confirmed to ICOS that it will not be until mid to late November before the first approvals issue.
The Terms and Conditions document can be found at the following link:-
By Eamonn Farrell
Agri & Food Policy Executive