Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon has welcomed confirmation yesterday (Thursday) of the launch of the new Tillage Measures under TAMS II which will assist tillage farmers to modernise and cut costs.

“My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, has announced the launch of the new specialised Tillage Measure under TAMS II, worth approximately €26 million. This is the seventh of a suite of measures available to Kildare farmers under TAMS II.

“In my previous role as chairman of Fine Gael’s internal agriculture committee, I had called for a tillage measure to be included in the suite of TAMS II measures.  This new measure will allow tillage farmers across Kildare to get assistance for investment in the most modern and efficient equipment and facilities to assist them to improve competitiveness.

“South Kildare is traditionally a strong area for tillage farmers but given the bad harvest of 2016 coupled with threats from Brexit, tillage farmers are under pressure. This new initiative includes capital investment measures which will support tillage farmers to use the most modern and efficient equipment and facilities.  Specific areas of investment include Minimum Disturbance Tillage Equipment, Sprayers, Rain Water Harvesting, Grain Storage and Grain dryers.

“I would encourage Kildare tillage farmers to take advantage of this scheme.  All applications must be made on-line, either by the farmer or by their authorised Advisor.  The closing date for applications under the first tranche of the new measure will be Friday 30 June 2017.  Further details are available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/ farmerschemespayments/tams/.