Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today reminded farmers that the deadline for applications for the new Sheep Improvement Scheme is midnight tonight (Monday 9 January 2023).
Minister McConalogue said: “I am pleased to hear that sheep farmers are applying to participate in the new Sheep Improvement Scheme, with over 12,000 farmers having already applied. The Sheep Improvement Scheme is an important support to sheep farmers, and I would urge all eligible applicants to apply before next Monday’s deadline.”
The Sheep Improvement Scheme replaces the Sheep Welfare Scheme on 1 February 2023. The scheme year will run from 1 February to 31 December 2023. Farmers are reminded that the scheme actions must be completed between 1 February and 31 December 2023. From 2024, the scheme year will coincide with the calendar year, which will make the administration of the scheme more straightforward for farmers, advisors and the department.
The department will write those farmers who have selected the scanning action and give them an opportunity to change their actions for 2023, if they so wish (for example, if they normally carry out scanning in January). Farmers can also select the genotyped ram action in 2023, which would replace the scanning action in that year.
Applications for the scheme can be made by the farmer or by a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved Advisor via the application facility on www.agfood.ie. The closing date for the submission of applications is midnight on Monday 9 January 2023.
For further details on the scheme, including a copy of the terms and conditions of the scheme, a Frequently Asked Questions document, and a how to apply guide, are available on the department’s website at: Sheep Improvement Scheme.
Applications for the Sheep Improvement Scheme are now being accepted by the department on www.agfood.ie. Farmers can submit the application themselves or they can ask a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved Advisor to submit an application on their behalf. A list of approved FAS Advisors is also available on the department’s website at: Farm Advisory System (FAS).
If a farmer or advisor has any problems logging in to www.agfood.ie, they can contact the department at agfood@agriculture.gov.ie or 049 4368288.
For any further information on the scheme, contact the department by phone or email by the following:
- phone: 057 8674422
- email: sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie