Ireland allocates €46 million to support farmers with fertiliser costs
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The Department of Agriculture in Ireland will distribute €46.2 million to farmers to offset rising fertiliser costs linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Ireland is combining €15.38 million from an EU aid package with a national contribution of €30.8 million for the scheme. The department will determine which farmers qualify and calculate payments using data from the National Fertiliser Database covering fertiliser purchases from 15 September 2024 to 14 September 2025.
Farmers must have applied for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme and be registered as a Fertiliser End User to receive the support. The department intends to make payments automatically, avoiding a separate application process for farmers, and will deliver the funds before the end of the year. The scheme will support fertiliser purchases of 2.5 to 100 tonnes per farmer at a rate of €40 per tonne, with a minimum payment of €100.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon stated the tonnage limits ensure the maximum number of impacted farmers receive assistance within the €46.2 million budget. The department will also use 2026 purchase records for new farmers and young farmers who began farming this year, and will allow horticultural producers without BISS applications to qualify using plant or horticulture registration numbers.
Additionally, the department confirmed a €31 million extension to the Fuel Income Support Scheme, which reimburses eligible workers 20 cent per litre of green diesel used for work, extending the program through December.
