2023 Red Clover Silage Measure

What is the Red Clover Silage Measure?

This Measure aims to incentivise farmers to sow red clover silage swards, which will reduce the reliance on nitrogen fertilisers and promote a more sustainable method of farming. A financial contribution will be provided to participating applicants to offset part of the cost that farmers will incur in the establishment of these swards. This measure will build on the areas established under the 2022 pilot programme. Red Clover due to its Nitrogen fixing ability produces fodder higher in protein than conventional silage and combined with its ability to yield over 14t DM/ha will assist farmers in reducing their concentrate feed bills.

Trial work from Teagasc has shown that swards with high red clover content have the potential to fix 200kg N/ha, which will allow for reduced chemical nitrogen use, while reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions. Different species in the sward will allow for enhanced biodiversity, while the deep tap root will give greater drought tolerance and contribute to improved soil structure.

Key Changes When Compared to Last Year’s Pilot Measure

• Payments will now be made directly to the approved farmer on a per hectare basis.
• The payment rate has been increased significantly up to a potential €300 per hectare where eligible swards are established. A reduced payment rate per hectare will apply as appropriate if eligible applications exceed the available budget for the Measure.
• To receive payment under this Measure, an applicant must indicate the correct crop type on their 2023 BISS application.

How to Qualify

To be eligible for the Red Clover Silage Measure, you must:

• Apply online at agfood.ie by the closing date of midnight on 29th May 2023 .
• To apply for the Red Clover Silage Measure, an applicant/their agent log into agfood.ie and then select “Multi-Species Sward and Red Clover Silage Measure”, they then select “Schemes to Enter” and finally “Red Clover Silage Measure (RCSM) 2023”.

• Applicants must agree to the declarations and Terms & Conditions (it is not necessary to declare areas to be sown at application stage).
• The Red Clover Silage Sward must be grown on lands declared on the approved applicant’s 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme application.
• In order to receive payment under this measure an applicant must indicate the crop type as Red Clover on their 2023 BISS Scheme application, on the parcel(s) where they are sowing the red clover silage mixture.
• Only seed purchased after the application is lodged on Agfood.ie and before the final date for sowing the crop, 15th July 2023 is eligible under this measure.

Lands that are Ineligible to Participate in the Red Clover Silage Measure

The following land categories are excluded from the Red Clover Silage Measure:

• Commonage land
• Natura 2000 sites
• NHA designated land
• Environmentally Sensitive Permanent Grassland
• Land within archaeological monument buffer zones

Rate of Payment

Once an applicant has been approved under the Red Clover Silage Measure a payment of up to €300/ha will be provided to participating applicants to offset part of the cost that farmers will incur in the establishment of these swards. A reduced payment rate per hectare will apply as appropriate if eligible applications exceed the available budget for the Measure.

2023 Red Clover Silage Measure – Terms and Conditions

2023 Red Clover Silage Measure – Frequently Asked Questions