The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced the launch of the 2012 Bioenergy scheme to grant aid the planting of willow and miscanthus crops.

The project is part of the re-opening of a range of Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Measures.

Simon Coveney TD said the scheme will consolidate the progress made since 2007 in developing and has the potent to support in the region of 1,400 additional hectares in 2012.

He said: "I have decided to amend the terms and conditions of the scheme so that participants are no longer required to maintain the crop for seven years as a condition of receiving grant-aid. I think that the removal of this condition should help to make the scheme more attractive to farmers without reducing their commitment to establishing and properly managing the crop once they make the planting investment. Taken together with the anticipated boost to demand from the proposed REFIT tariffs for biomass, I am confident that the scheme in 2012 will lead to increased interest from farmers who wish to become involved in energy crop production."

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The scheme is now open for applications and interested farmers can apply for establishment grants of up to €1,300 per hectare to cover 50% of the costs of establishing these crops.

The closing date for submission of applications for pre-planting approval is Wednesday 18th January 2012.

(CD)