Straw Incorporation Measure
The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) is an Agri-Environment and Climate support targeted specifically at the tillage sector in Ireland.
It seeks to support tillage farmers in undertaking actions which will increase soil organic carbon levels and deliver reductions in GHG emissions. There is a €10m budget for SIM in 2021.
Full details of the SIM scheme, including how to apply as a Registered Farm Partnership can be found the Department’s SIM section, available here.
Applications for the SIM is made as part of the BPS application process.
If you have already made your BPS application, you can now make your SIM application by way of an amendment to your BPS application. You can do this yourself via AgFood.ie or via your agricultural advisor.
The closing date for application for SIM is 17th May, 2021, but applicants can amend their application at any stage up to and including the 31st May deadline for BPS amendments.
There is a minimum area of 5 hectares that can be applied on. If you have applied for a minimum of 5 hectares of any of the eligible crops, the BPS application system will present you with a Straw Incorporation Measure screen.
If you wish to apply you can tick the box beside each parcel you want to include in your SIM application. All eligible crops on parcels applied on for SIM must then be combined, and the straw must be chopped, spread evenly and incorporated into soil.
Step 1 – Accessing the SIM Screen
If you have applied for a minimum of 5ha of any of the eligible crops on the ‘Land Details’ section of your BPS application, the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) screen will be available.
When you select ‘Yes’ to apply for the SIM Scheme, a list of your eligible crops will be displayed .
Step 2 – Selecting Parcels to Include
Tick the box beside each parcel that you wish to include in the SIM Measure – you must select a minimum of 5 ha to continue with the application.
Step 3 – Managing Sub Divisions
Even though you must apply on the whole of a parcel, you may choose to sub divide a parcel. Only parts that contain a SIM eligible crop will carry across to the SIM screen.
The SIM screen displays the SIM eligible crop section of sub division.
Step 4 – Confirmation
Once you have completed the application a prompt box will display confirming your application.
The ‘Land Totals’ prompt box will display the SIM eligible crop totals.
Full details of the SIM scheme, including how to apply as a Registered Farm Partnership can be found the Department’s SIM section, available here.
The minimum area that can be applied on is 5 ha (claimed area). This can be made up of multiple parcels, sub-divisions, or plots. For successful SIM applicants, the maximum area that will be paid on is 40ha. Applicants can apply on more than 40 ha, but if they choose to do so they must carry out chopping and incorporation on all lands applied on.
Example – if an applicant applies on 50ha for the Measure he/she will be paid on 40ha but will be obliged to comply with all the requirements of the Measure on the entire 50ha applied on.
| Crops | €/Ha |
| Oats – spring
Oats – winter Wheat – winter Wheat –spring Rye Barley – winter Barley – spring
|
€250 |
| Oilseed Rape – winter
Oilseed Rape – spring
|
€150 |
Should SIM be over-subscribed, a process of ranking and selection will be applied with applicants placed into tiers based on their 2021 BPS application data. Full details of the applicable selection criteria are set out in the Terms and Conditions which are available on the Departments SIM Section.
All eligible crops applied on for SIM must be harvested, the straw must be chopped, spread
evenly, and incorporated into the soil as soon as possible after harvest.
In terms of incorporation the following methods are deemed acceptable.
- Discing.
- Tined cultivators that can successfully incorporate the quantity of straw present.
- Straw rakes as required in strip till no till situations.
Ploughing of straw without prior incorporation with soil is not permitted under SIM.
Ploughing in an unincorporated layer of straw can lead to an increased risk of agronomic problems.
Applicants may switch the parcels declared with parcels of the same or greater size after the June 9th deadline, but such changes will not result in any increase in payment.
Yes.
Any applicants wishing to withdraw from the scheme or reduce their area after 31st May,
will be allowed to do so by means of a BPS amendment up to midnight on June 9th.
In duly justified cases withdrawals and reductions may be considered after the June 9th deadline if the applicant has not been notified of an issue with their application or notified of an inspection.
Any queries you may have can be directed to:
- Straw Incorporation Measure Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the
Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, R32 RPA6, or - 0761 064420, or
- [email protected]