The Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme So Far

Mar 3, 2025 | Farm Viability, Green Architecture

The Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) opened for applications in June 2023 and is funded under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. All investments under this scheme are available to all farmers but this scheme specifically allows eligible Women Farmers to receive a 60% grant with an individual funding ceiling of €90,000. The ceiling is increased for eligible registered farm partnerships to €160,000. This ceiling applies to applications across TAMS 3.

The scheme specifically aims to:

  • Empower women in agriculture
  • Promote gender equality
  • Acknowledge the role of women in agriculture
  • Encourage generation renewal
  • Provide financial support for technologies, equipment and buildings
  • Boost efficiencies on Farms
  • Reduce the environmental impact of farming
  • The scheme is available to Women over 18 and under 67 who have a minimum of 5ha declared on BISS. Women who were not on a herd number during the reference year – 2022, will need to complete an appropriate education course.

There are additional criteria for those wishing to avail of tillage or equine investments namely 15 ha for tillage investment and three equines declared on the Equine Census for equine investments.

Women who form part of a company or are in a registered farm partnership may also be eligible to apply.

Applications can be made online using a AgFood login, and all applications should have a TAMS 3 number. The application can either be completed by the woman farmer or by a nominated agent.

All details relating to applications can be found at gov.ie – Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme

The scheme has over 400 available investments, with bovine health and fertility monitoring equipment the most popular investment applied for under WFCIS. Animal Housing has the most expensive outlay: – 118 applications received under WFCIS since 2023 with a total investment figure of €9.4m

The top ten investments on WFCIS applications are:

  1. Health and fertility monitoring
  2. Calf Rearing Equipment
  3. Pasture Management
  4. Mass Concrete Tank
  5. Animal Housing
  6. Meal Bin
  7. Sheep Fencing
  8. Bovine Fencing
  9. Farm water supply
  10. Equine Fencing

Over 1300 applications have been made since June 2023 under the WFCIS with 900 approvals issued to eligible applicants, totalling in excess of €10m worth of investments.

Applicants have one year from the date of approval to complete investments and submit payment claims

To date over €2m has been issued following the completion of investments and submission of payment claims, with payments issuing on a weekly basis.

As WFCIS is a measure under the CSP, it will remain in place for the duration of the CSP with the likelihood that the new CSP post 2027 will continue to support the important role of women in farming

Check out the Kearney Family case study and video to learn how they are using the Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme under TAMS 3 to improve their farm and work/life balance.

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