Straw measure to go ahead along with option announced for farmers to be paid for baling straw

The minister attended a meeting with the Farmers Charter on Thursday, proposing the introduction of a payment for baling straw to run in tandem with the SIM.

This is the latest development following Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue's announcement last week that he intended to suspend the SIM for 2024, to ensure that there were sufficient supplies of straw through the winter months. Picture: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) will now go ahead, after a week of farmer frustration.

An option for tillage farmers to be paid a rate of €175 per hectare for baling straw has also been proposed.