Deadline Looms for Farming for Water Catch Crop Declarations
Farmers participating in the Farming for Water EIP Catch Crop Measures are being reminded that the deadline for Measure 6B (2-month Catch/Cover crop) declaration is fast approaching. The original deadline of September 1st has been extended to September 8th for 2025. All declarations for Measure 6B must be submitted by September 8th to be eligible for funding.
Almost 1,400 applications have been received under the pilot, which promotes the use of catch or cover crops following the harvest of cereal, oilseed, or vegetable crops. These crops utilise residual soil nutrients, support soil biology and biodiversity, and prevent nitrate leaching. Under the Farming for Water Project, they are targeted in areas identified for nitrate reduction in the South and East, as shown on the Nitrogen Priority Area for Action map on the Farming for Water website (https://farmingforwater.ie/areas-for-action/).
With vigorous root systems, catch/cover crops break up and condition the soil, improving friability for future cultivation, while residual herbage enhances soil organic carbon and structure. Additionally, they protect the soil from winter rainfall, erosion, and runoff, while enhancing water infiltration and biodiversity.
Funding for the measure ranges from €229/ha/year for Measure 6A to €173/ha/year for Measure 6B. Declaration forms must be submitted via the Waters and Communities Office Online Portal: Annual Declaration Form – Catch/Cover Crop Measure 6A & 6B.
For Measure 6B (Two-Month Catch/Cover Crops), crops must remain in place until September 30th and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in acceptance letters.
For Measure 6A (Four-Month Catch/Cover Crops), the sowing deadline is September 1st, the declarations deadline is October 1st, and crops must remain in place until January 1st. All areas must also meet the eligibility requirements set out in acceptance letters.
Project Lead Mairead Whitty described the uptake as exceeding all expectations and noted that it is extremely positive from a water quality perspective.
“The level of engagement from the tillage sector was very significant, and this would not have been possible without the Teagasc ASSAP advisory team, the Teagasc Regional Managers, and the wider Teagasc tillage advisory team. I would like to acknowledge the huge volume of work they completed within a very tight timeframe and thank them for their support for this pilot. The unprecedented demand placed significant pressure on the EIP team to process and approve applications in advance of the sowing deadline, and they too are to be complimented for their work. I would also like to thank the many farmers who have engaged with the project and are actively implementing measures to improve water quality.
Full details and the online declaration form are available at:
https://farmingforwater.ie/annual-declaration-form-for-catch-and-cover-crops/