Farmers can now apply for Sheep Improvement Scheme
The scheme has been introduced to enhance animal health and welfare in the sheep sector. It provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock.
The Sheep Improvement Scheme has opened to new entrants, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.
This is the second year of the scheme.
The scheme has been introduced to enhance animal health and welfare in the sheep sector. It provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock.
The scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and has a budget allocation of €100m.
Applicants will be paid €12 per breeding ewe up to the reference number of animals, which is determined at application stage based on the previous year census returns.
Applications must be made on agfood.ie.
The application closing date is 5pm on February 29.
For year two of the scheme, a new entrant to this scheme is defined as an applicant who has applied for a new flock number within the period from December 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023.
A new entrant can also be an applicant with an existing flock number who has not held or traded in sheep for a three-year period from December 1, 2020, to November 30, 2023.
