Budget boost for bio-fuel supply chain

TILLAGE farmers’ hopes of a fully fledged energy cropping programme were boosted by Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s Budget speech revelation of an imminent top-up of €80 per hectare, on top of the existing €45 EU premium for growers.

A top-up of €6 million will be available over the next three years. Payment will be subject to a maximum ceiling per producer of 94 hectares over the three years.

It’s designed to kick-start Irish biofuel cropping and ensure the supply of indigenous feedstock to meet demand arising from the recently announced Excise Relief Scheme.