Over €5 million announced for almost 2,000 farmers in Waterford
Minister Martin Heydon pictured recently with the Organic Beef and Lamb Innovation Group (OBLIG) steering group at the official launch of the group.
Almost 2,000 farmers in Waterford are set to receive over €5 million in advanced payments under the 2026 Eco-Scheme, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon announced last week.
1,931 farmers in the county have been approved for the advanced payments, which total €5,348,406.
Nationally, almost 107,000 farmers will benefit from the advanced payments, totaling over €203 million.
Minister Heydon announced the news last Friday, October 16, saying, “I can confirm that advance payments under the Eco-Scheme, worth €203 million to 106,913 farmers, have commenced.
"The aim of Ireland’s Eco-Scheme is to reward farmers for undertaking actions beneficial to the climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity. Eco-Scheme payments are a vital support for farmers, and I have maintained the payment rate in 2026 at €66 per eligible hectare, same as it was in 2025.
"Notwithstanding the change in the BISS and CRISS advance payment date, due to industrial action, from today Friday, October 16, to Tuesday, October 27, 2026, my Department remains committed to ensuring that all scheme payments continue to issue in the most efficient way possible to ensure that these vital supports are delivered to farmers in a timely manner," the Minister continued.
"Today almost 92% of all 2026 Eco-Scheme eligible applicants have received an advance 2026 Eco-Scheme payment.”
The Eco-Scheme advance payments are set to commence at a rate of 75%, which is 5% higher than what was paid in recent years.
"Payments will be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days," the Minister said, "and the Department will continue to process all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria.
"I would, however, urge any farmers with outstanding requests for documentation or evidence from my Department to return them, as well as any farmers who applied for Agricultural Practice 3 and/or Agricultural Practice 5 to put up their closing stocks on the National Fertiliser Database to allow payments to issue as soon as possible.”
Farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their Eco-Scheme payments can phone the Direct Payments Helpdesk at 057 8674422. Farmers can also submit any queries they may have online via www.MyAgfood.ie.
