BISS: An Overview
With the deadline for submissions just two weeks ago, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has urged farmers to make their applications for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
This new scheme takes the place of the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS). According to the Government, BISS has been established as an income support to Irish farmers transitioning towards more sustainable and viable production systems.
There is very little new in terms of the structure of the scheme. As in the case of the BPS, payments will be based on entitlements with one eligible hectare supporting each payment entitlement.
Am I eligible?
Most farmers will be eligible to apply for BISS. The Department website outlines the following requirements for applicants:
- All applicants must have an eligible hectare pertaining to each payment entitlement claimed (i.e. one hectare = one BISS entitlement)
- Applicants must be the holder of a herd number, or have applied for a herd number prior to the BISS application deadline (29 May, 2023)
- The applicant must be an active farmer. This means that the person claiming the BISS payment must be farming the land for which entitlements are being claimed. In order to be deemed an active farmer, the applicant needs to fulfil certain criteria such as:
- maintaining a minimum stocking rate of 0.1 units per forage hectare
- producing crops or hay/silage
- maintaining landscapes
What is BISS worth?
As outlined above, entitlements are paid per eligible hectare of land. However, the number and value of entitlements may depend on a range of factors, including:
- The rates and number of entitlements that the applicant received under previous direct payment schemes
- Annual adjustments to move payments received towards convergence with the national average
- The transfer of entitlements between farmers
The maximum payment that a single applicant can receive under the scheme is €66,000. The minimum payment rate is €100. The DAFM website indicates that an advance payment may be made in October of 2023, while balancing payments commence in December.
How can I apply
Applications are made online via agfood.ie. The deadline for applications is the 29th of May, 2023. Before applying, applicants should visit Gov.ie for more information.
