When the tillage sector was largely ignored in the TAMS 2 grant scheme launches in 2015, it was the last straw for hundreds of crop farmers.

For years now, Macra Na Feirme has been highlighting the issue of Ireland’s ageing farming population.

Flooding in fields is evident across some of the country’s tillage areas, although rainfall has been higher in other parts, according to Teagasc.

Tillage farmers have been told anti-resistance practices are vital when using fungicides, following identification by Teagasc researchers of new strains of Zymoseptoria tritici, the cause of septoria tritici blotch on wheat, with reduced sensitivity to SDHI fungicides.

IFA grain chairman Liam Dunne has called upon Government authorities and trade buyers to help stem the deepening income crisis on tillage farms.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that only dairy equipment; organic farming; low emission slurry spreading; animal welfare, safety and nutrient storage; and pig and poultry, are in the TAMS II targeted modernisation scheme.

GLAS is not a whole-farm scheme like REPS.

With the Organic Farming Scheme 2015 opened until May 29, and with a payments increase of up to 60%, interest in the sector is higher than it has been in some years.

With the Organic Farming Scheme 2015 opened until May 29, and with a payments increase of up to 60%, interest in the sector is higher than it has been in some years.