€46.2 million aid announced to ease fertiliser costs
Minister Martin Heydon has unveiled a €46.2 million support scheme to assist farmers grappling with soaring fertiliser prices linked to the Middle East crisis. The initiative combines EU funding with a national top-up, aiming to deliver payments before the end of 2026.
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Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 2 min read
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced a substantial €46.2 million funding package designed to support Irish farmers affected by sharp increases in input costs, particularly fertiliser, due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. This fund merges Ireland’s €15.38 million allocation from the EU Fertiliser Exceptional Aid package with the maximum national top-up of 200%, amounting to €30.8 million, to provide timely financial relief before the end of this year.
The scheme will utilise existing data from the National Fertiliser Database for the 2025 fertiliser year (15 September 2024 to 14 September 2025) to identify farmers most impacted by rising costs, thereby establishing eligibility and calculating payments. This method reduces administrative burdens, as farmers will not need to apply to receive support. Eligibility criteria include a minimum chemical fertiliser purchase of 2.5 tonnes and a maximum of 100 tonnes, with a payment rate set at €40 per tonne and a minimum payment of €100.
Minister Heydon highlighted provisions for new entrant and young farmers who began farming in 2026, explaining that their fertiliser purchase records for the 2026 fertiliser year, alongside their Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS) applications, will be used for payment calculations. Horticultural producers without BISS applications can qualify if they hold a Department of Agriculture Plant Health or Horticulture Food Registration Number. Data extraction from the National Fertiliser Database will occur on 23 October 2026, and farmers, along with their fertiliser merchants, must ensure their purchase records for the 2025 fertiliser year are accurate and complete by then. Further details on payment rates will be announced by the Department in the coming weeks.
The scheme will utilise existing data from the National Fertiliser Database for the 2025 fertiliser year (15 September 2024 to 14 September 2025) to identify farmers most impacted by rising costs, thereby establishing eligibility and calculating payments. This method reduces administrative burdens, as farmers will not need to apply to receive support. Eligibility criteria include a minimum chemical fertiliser purchase of 2.5 tonnes and a maximum of 100 tonnes, with a payment rate set at €40 per tonne and a minimum payment of €100.
Minister Heydon highlighted provisions for new entrant and young farmers who began farming in 2026, explaining that their fertiliser purchase records for the 2026 fertiliser year, alongside their Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS) applications, will be used for payment calculations. Horticultural producers without BISS applications can qualify if they hold a Department of Agriculture Plant Health or Horticulture Food Registration Number. Data extraction from the National Fertiliser Database will occur on 23 October 2026, and farmers, along with their fertiliser merchants, must ensure their purchase records for the 2025 fertiliser year are accurate and complete by then. Further details on payment rates will be announced by the Department in the coming weeks.
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