BISS and CRISS advance
Started 22 October 2026
This table puts the main Department of Agriculture schemes in one place. For each one it gives the 2026 date and the day payments started last year. Every date is quoted from the Department, a Dáil answer or the Farmers' Charter.
Quick facts
- BISS and CRISS advance
- Started 22 October 2026
- Eco-scheme advance
- Started 16 October 2026
- ANC advance
- Started 16 September 2026
- Most balances
- Early December
- Helpdesk
- 057 8674422
2026 payment dates, scheme by scheme
| Scheme and payment | 2026 date | Last year it started |
|---|---|---|
| BISS advance (75%) | Started Thursday 22 October 2026 | 16 October 2025 |
| CRISS advance (75%) | Started Thursday 22 October 2026 | 16 October 2025 |
| Eco-scheme advance (75% of €66 a hectare) | Started 16 October 2026 | 22 October 2025 |
| ANC advance (85%) | Started 16 September 2026 | 17 September 2025 |
| ANC balance (the other 15%) | Early December 2026 | Not published |
| BISS, CRISS and Eco-scheme balances | Early December (Charter target) | Not published |
| ACRES advance | By end-November (Charter target) | 6 November 2025 |
| ACRES balance | Before the end of May the following year (Charter target) | Not published |
| Sheep Improvement Scheme advance | November (Charter target) | 24 November 2025 |
| Sheep Improvement Scheme balance | May of the following year (Charter target) | Not published |
| National Sheep Welfare Scheme | Not announced yet | 10 November 2025 |
| Beef Welfare Scheme | December 2026 | 1 December 2025 |
| Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) | Mid-December (Charter target) | 5 December 2025 |
| National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme | December 2026 | Not published |
| Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (calves born in 2026) | March 2027 | February 2026 |
| Protein Aid Scheme | Mid-December (Charter target) | Not published |
| Straw Incorporation Measure | Mid-December (Charter target) | 16 December 2025 |
| Organic Farming Scheme advance | Early December (Charter target) | 8 December 2025 |
| Organic Farming Scheme balance | When all inspections are complete (Charter target) | Not published |
| Young farmers top-up (CIS-YF) | Early December (Charter target) | Not published |
| National Reserve | Early December (Charter target) | Not published |
| Fertiliser Exceptional Aid Scheme | Early December 2026 (proposed) | New scheme |
| Forestry premiums | Bulk payment in January, then through the year (Charter target) | Not published |
Started means the Department has said payments began. A Charter target is the date set in the Department's Farmers' Charter of Rights 2023 to 2027. The other dates are ones the Department has announced for 2026.
For the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme, weights must reach ICBF by 17.30 on 1 November 2026 for you to be paid.
The Department told the Dáil on 8 October that balancing payments are on schedule for delivery in line with the Farmers' Charter. ACRES advance payments for 2026 are scheduled to start in quarter four of 2026.
Why your payment might come later
Each date is when payments start for cases the Department has cleared. Cleared means it has finished all its checks and fixed any errors on your application. If your case is still being checked, you are paid later.
Once a payment issues, the Department says it will be visible in farmers' bank accounts in the coming days.
How to check on a payment
Answer any letter from the Department quickly
The Minister urged farmers with outstanding requests for documents to respond quickly so payments can be processed.
Ring the Direct Payments Helpdesk
For BISS or ANC payments, ring the Direct Payments Helpdesk at 057 8674422.
Or send your question online
You can submit a query online through www.myagfood.ie.
For the fertiliser scheme, use its own helpdesk
Ring 053 9163425 or email feas@agriculture.gov.ie.
Phone, forms and how long it takes
- Direct payments queries (BISS, CRISS and other area schemes)
- +353 (0) 57 86 74422
- Fertiliser Exceptional Aid Scheme Helpdesk
- 053 9163425
- Direct payments correspondence
- DirectPaymentsCorrespondence@agriculture.gov.ie
- Fertiliser Exceptional Aid Scheme Helpdesk
- feas@agriculture.gov.ie
From the official pages (gov.ie, assets.gov.ie), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.
Common questions
When is the BISS payment in 2026?
The 75% advance started on Thursday 22 October 2026. The balance is due in early December, the Farmers' Charter target.
When is the ACRES payment in 2026?
The Department says 2026 advance payments are scheduled to start in quarter four of 2026. The Charter target is by end-November. Last year the advance started on 6 November 2025.
When is the ANC balance paid?
The 15% balance is due to start in early December 2026. The 85% advance started on 16 September 2026.
Why was the BISS payment late in 2026?
The Minister said the delay of six days arose from public sector industrial action. Payments started on 22 October 2026.
When is the Eco-scheme balance paid?
The Farmers' Charter target is early December. The 75% advance started on 16 October 2026, at a rate of €66 per eligible hectare for the full year.
- Department of Agriculture: Farmers' Charter of Rights 2023-2027
- www.gov.ie: Inister heydon announces start of biss and criss payments of 551 million to over 110000 farmers
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon announces over 203 million in advance payments under the 2026 eco scheme to almost 107000 farmers
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon announces 179 million of payments under the areas of natural constraints scheme
- www.gov.ie: Beef welfare scheme 2026
- www.gov.ie: National dairy beef weighing scheme 2026
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon announces reopening of the dairy beef welfare scheme for new applicants
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon confirms commencement of 4706 million in payments under the suckler carbon efficiency programme
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon announces 5515 million in payments issuing under the organic farming scheme
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon announces 83 million of payments under the straw incorporation measure
- www.gov.ie: Minister heydon announces almost 17 million in sheep improvement scheme payments
- assets.gov.ie: Fertiliser_exceptional_aid_scheme_ _questions_and_answers_ _v2_22_oct_2026_1.pdf
- www.oireachtas.ie: 322
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- www.oireachtas.ie: 128
- www.oireachtas.ie: 621
- www.oireachtas.ie: 22