Payments from farm scheme are a vital source of income for upwards of 120,000 farm families. Analysis by the Teagasc National Farm Survey in recent years shows that income from schemes comprised in excess of 100% of family farm incomes on many suckler, sheep and beef farmers.

This means that such farms were eating in to their scheme payments to keep their enterprise running.

Of course there is massive variation between the top- and bottom-performing enterprises in every sector.

Nevertheless, the importance of scheme payments cannot be underestimated, even on dairy farms, where, on average, income from schemes makes up a much lower percentage of family farm income.

With such a strong reliance on schemes ,it is not surprising that there is a firm focus on scheme payment dates and farmers receiving payments when due.

The Farmers’ Charter of Rights agreed between the Department of Agriculture and farm organisations/industry stakeholders includes timelines – or approximate dates – for payments across the main schemes available.

Mixed grazing near Borris.

These are listed below along with some additions going on payment dates over the last year.

  • Areas of Natural Constraint: payments commence in September and regular pay runs will continue until mid-November before balancing payments commence in early December.
  • BISS and CRISS: payments commence on 16 October and weekly pay runs will continue until mid-November, before balancing payments commence in early December.
  • Eco Scheme: payments commence to eligible applications on 23 October and regular pay runs will continue until mid-November, before balancing payments begin in early December.
  • Sheep Improvement Scheme: advance Payments commence in November and balancing payments in May of following year.
  • ACRES core payments: payments to commence by end-November to 100% of cleared cases. Balancing payments before end of May in the following year.
  • CIS-YF and National reserve: 100% of cleared cases to be paid as a complete payment in early December.
  • Protein Aid Scheme: eligible applicants to be paid as a complete payment in mid-December.
  • SCEP: payments to commence to eligible applicants in mid-December.
  • National Beef Welfare Scheme: payments to commence in mid-December.
  • National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme: payments to commence in early December.
  • National Sheep Welfare Scheme: payments to commence in mid-December to cleared applications. Later payment date of possibly early 2026 for farmers opting to delay completion of certain actions.
  • Organic Farming Scheme: advance payments will commence to eligible applicants in early December. Balancing payments when all inspections are completed.
  • Straw Incorporation Measure: payment to issue to cleared cases in mid-December.
  • 2024 Multi-Species and Red Clover Silage Sward measures: payments to commence in mid-to-late-December.
  • Forestry grant schemes: 100% payment to cleared cases within six weeks for non-inspection cases, or 12 weeks where inspection is required in the case of valid/complete applications
  • Forestry Premium Scheme: annual bulk payment in January, but payments continue throughout the year.
  • CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme: payments will be made in March 2026 for the 2025 scheme year.
  • On-Farm Investment Scheme (TAMS 3): approval for payment within two months following the receipt of the claim for payment (including valid supporting documents). Payment will issue to 100% of cleared cases within three weeks of approval for payment, when it has been determined that the work has been completed fully in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme.
  • ACRES NPIs and landscape actions: approval for payment within three months following the receipt of the claim for payment (including any valid supporting documents). Department were targeting early 2025 to have payment claims system operational but as of June the payment claims system was not available.