Final checks before your 2026 BISS appointment
Farmers are being encouraged to review their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application details before attending their 2026 consultation with their advisor.
The Teagasc Scheme Support Unit has advised farmers to carefully examine all relevant information in their BISS application packs to help consultations run smoothly and efficiently. Where not already done, applicants are reminded to book their BISS appointment with their Teagasc advisor in advance.
The BISS application process plays a key role in determining eligibility for several key schemes, including the Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme, the Eco-Scheme, Protein Aid, Organic Farming, the Straw Incorporation Measure and the CIS Young Farmer Scheme.
Farmers are advised to ensure they have selected all schemes that apply to their farm and ensure that land parcel use declarations on their BISS application match the requirements of any schemes they intend to participate in during 2026.
In addition, farmers should check that all landscape features on their land, including hedgerows, stone walls, drains, scrub and habitats, have been correctly identified and included in the ‘Spaces for Nature’ calculation. Any areas that should be reduced or excluded due to developments such as new roadways, buildings or sites should be clearly marked on maps before the appointment.
Farmers eligible for the Young Farmer Scheme should also confirm their continuation in the scheme on their BISS application or submit a new application if the continuation option is not available.
In preparation for their appointment, the Teagasc Schemes Support unit has prepared a checklist to review before your appointment with your advisor:
- Herd Number Changes
- Has your Herd Number changed since last year?
- Have you formed an RFP or a Company?
- Young Farmer Scheme
- Is anyone on the Herd Number eligible to apply for the Young Farmer Scheme?
- Land changes
- Is there new land to add to your BISS 2026 application?
- Is there land to remove from your BISS 2026 application?
- Leased/rented land
- Can you confirm the end dates for all leased or rented land for 2026?
- Entitlements
- Are there entitlements to be traded / bought / sold / leased in / leased out?
- Dairy farmers
- Identify your milking platform clearly on your BISS maps
Access the: BISS 2026 Farmer Preparation Checklist (PDF).