Department launches €6m badger biosecurity scheme to tackle Bovine TB

Farmers can receive up to 40% on a maximum of €2,000 expenditure on badger biosecurity material

The scheme will allow farmers to purchase fencing materials for fencing off badger setts to exclude cattle from the area around the opening of setts, as well as purchase eligible water troughs and feed troughs, which impede badger access from eligible participating co-operatives and agri-retail merchants. File picture

The On-Farm Badger Biosecurity Scheme, which will partially fund actions to minimise contact between badgers and livestock, has been launched.

This scheme comes under ‘Measure 2: Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB,’ from the Bovine TB Action Plan, agriculture minister Martin Heydon published last year and is now open for farmers' applications until May 31, 2026.

If approved, a farmer will be provided with a grant aid of 40% for purchases of eligible materials up to a maximum of €2,000 expenditure, meaning farmers could receive a maximum of €800 excluding VAT through the scheme. The minimum amount of investment eligible for approval under this scheme is €500 excluding VAT per herdowner.

Following the announcement, the minister said the scheme “will allow farmers to reduce the risk posed by badgers in the spread of bTB by assisting in the cost of improving on-farm badger biosecurity measures.” 

To be eligible to participate in the scheme, the applicant must have submitted a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application in 2025 and have bovine livestock on their holding in 2026 at the time of application.

Once a farmer is approved for the scheme, they will be issued an approval letter from the department. Once approved, the farmer must make their purchases between July 1 and August 31, 2026.

The department has capped the number of participants at 7,500, where all eligibility requirements are met.

The scheme will allow farmers to purchase fencing materials for fencing off badger setts to exclude cattle from the area around the opening of setts, as well as purchase eligible water troughs and feed troughs, which impede badger access from eligible participating co-operatives and agri-retail merchants.

A current list of participating co-operatives and agri-retail merchants can be found on the department’s website, with more co-operatives and agri-retail merchants expected to join this week.

Applications will only be accepted by email to [e-mail]. For more information, visit the department’s website.