The Department of Agriculture confirmed earlier this year that payments under the Protein Aid Scheme in 2025 can reach a maximum level of €600/ha.

This follows confirmation that the budget for 2025 has been increased to €10m. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that this budget is likely to remain in place for the remaining two years of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

The scheme was highly popular among tillage farmers in 2024 with over 21,600 hectares of land under protein crops.

The payment in 2024 was set at €493/ha for beans, peas, lupins and soya beans, while a half rate of €246.50/ha was paid for protein/cereal mixes.

Industry estimates point to a significantly reduced area of ground sown with protein crops in 2025 due, in part to, an increase in the area of winter crops sown and ideal conditions for planting crops this spring.

A payment of €600/ha would equate to a protein area of approximately 16,700ha.

There is no capping of payments under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and the minimum payment is €100 per applicant.

Eligible crops

The crops listed in the terms and conditions as eligible once declared on the 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application include the following:

  • Beans.
  • Peas.
  • Lupins.
  • Soybean.
  • 100% protein.
  • Protein/cereal mix crop.

    • Protein/cereal mix

    The Department of Agriculture defines the protein/cereal mix crop as a crop that has a seed mix with the protein crop accounting for at least 50% of the seeding rate and the remainder comprising a cereal crop. Crops undersown with grass such as an oats/peas/grass combination are not eligible.

    Eligible crops for the protein element of the seed mix are beans, peas, lupins and soybean while eligible cereals are wheat, oats, barley, rye and triticale. The Department adds that a tolerance of 10% in absolute terms of a lower protein crop seed inclusion rate (ie, not less than 40% protein crop element) will be permitted.

    The crop must be grown to a commercial standard with the appropriate seeding rates. It is advised that applicants should retain records of seed purchases, as they may be requested as part of checks for protein or protein/cereal mix crops.