Sheep farmers advised to plan well for fencing grants

THE inclusion last week of sheep fencing grants in the TAMS II scheme ‘with immediate effect’ has been warmly welcomed by representatives of the sector.

Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, said that he was ‘delighted’ at the inclusion of ‘an important investment item’ for the sheep sector in TAMS II (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme).

The Minister said that applicants could apply online immediately for inclusion in the scheme – the first tranche of applications closes on June 24 next, with a second one to open on the following day, June 25.

Farms can qualify for a ‘reference cost’ rate of €5.34c per linear metre for sheep mesh with one strand of wire – in mountain areas that figure rises to €8.01c per linear metre.

In addition to that, gateways will also be grant aided to the tune of €299 per gateway – farmers planning to avail of the grant have been warned to check out all the conditions and requirements of the scheme.

Galway IFA Sheep Chairman, Michael Murphy, said that the introduction of the scheme was to be welcomed but he advised farmers to get ‘a proper job done’ as otherwise they could lose out on their grant payments.

“Farmers, especially if they doing the fencing themselves, need to be aware of what’s required. There’s no point spending a lot on fencing and to then find the job turned down,” said Michael Murphy.

He said that simple things like the use of approved stakes just required a bit of pre-planning to ensure that there were no pitfalls later on.

“We don’t really know why it was taken out of the first scheme but now that it’s back, it should be of major benefit to farmers who need to invest in good fencing,” said Michael Murphy.

For more details see this week’s Connacht Tribune.