Uncertainty Around Farm Schemes after Budget ’27    

IFA Rural Development Chair John Curran has said that while Budget ‘27 contained some modest measures, there were a number of missed opportunities that would have made a big difference.

“Extending the Fuel Support Scheme, the new fertiliser support scheme; increased TAMS funding and taxation measures to support Farm Succession were some of the key ones for farmers. However, the absence of extra funding for the livestock schemes – covering the Sheep Welfare Scheme, Sheep Improvement Scheme, Beef Welfare Scheme, SCEP, Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme and Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme – is a big concern. The Minister knows there are additional applicants and even increased demand to complete actions within individual schemes so an additional allocation will be needed,” he said. 

“We need to ensure there is enough funding allocated to these core farm payments. The Minister must avoid the mistakes and linear cuts of last year for the livestock sectors. The tillage sector got some additional SIM money to avoid possible cuts, and the same must apply to the other schemes. Farmers across all sectors are feeling the effects of escalating costs,” John Curran said.

IFA Hill Farming Chair James Gallagher said “The biggest omission from the Budget was extra money for ANC payments. This still remains well below pre-crash levels, and it would have meant a hell of a lot to hill farmers”.

“There was nothing extra for ACRES either which we might have expected to cover the increased investments in Non-Productive Investments and Landscape Actions happening on-farm, but also to cover potentially ‘Landscape Bonus’ payments too in 2027,” he said.