DAFM went digital — save yourself a wasted trip to the office on your next application

The DAFM agfood.ie portal is where Irish farmers handle many BISS, ACRES and TAMS applications, check correspondence and follow payment status. Before you log in, have your DAFM username, herd number and supporting documents ready. This guide explains the practical route through the portal and the common points where an application can stall.

Updated 10 August 2026. DAFM has launched MyAgFood.ie, the new platform that will replace agfood.ie over time. Your existing agfood.ie login works on both, and both now use two-factor authentication by text message. The setup and login steps below reflect the new process.

If your immediate question is a payment date, start with our 2026 farm payment dates guide. For ACRES eligibility and actions, use the plain-English ACRES guide.

This is either good news or a headache, depending on your broadband and your patience with government websites. Here's the practical reality.

What can you find after logging in?

The exact screens depend on your permissions and the scheme involved. Look for the areas covering applications, correspondence, payments and claims. Save or download important letters and confirmations while you are in the account, then keep them with the rest of your farm records.

If a status looks unclear, do not treat the portal label as a final decision. Check the letter attached to the application or contact DAFM before assuming that a payment is approved, refused or missing.

What's moved online

As of August 2026, the following are primarily or exclusively handled through agfood.ie and the new MyAgFood.ie:

• BISS applications and transfers — including entitlement transfers and lease notifications
• ACRES annual submissions — compliance records and evidence uploads
• TAMS III applications — the full application and claims process
• Organic Farming Scheme applications
• Herd register updates — animal movements and birth registrations (alongside ICBF)
• Animal Health notifications — TB test results, disease notifications

The portal also now shows your payment history, scheme status, and compliance records in one place. That's genuinely useful. Previously you'd be ringing Portlaoise to find out where your payment was.

What works well

Payment tracking is a real improvement. You can see exactly where your BISS, ACRES, or TAMS payment sits in the processing pipeline. "Submitted," "Under review," "Approved for payment," "Payment issued" — each stage is visible. No more wondering if your application fell into a black hole.

Document uploads save posting time. Need to send a vet cert, a planning permission letter, or an invoice for a TAMS claim? Upload it directly. No more posting originals and praying they arrive.

Deadline reminders are built in. The portal now shows your upcoming deadlines for each scheme. This alone prevents the single most common mistake farmers make — missing a deadline and losing a year's payment.

What still doesn't work well

The interface is not intuitive. Let's be honest — agfood.ie was not designed by someone who's ever filled in a form in a hurry with muck on their hands. Navigation is confusing, labels are bureaucratic, and it's easy to end up on the wrong page.

Broadband is still a problem. If you're on a weak connection in west Roscommon, uploading a 5MB PDF can time out. The portal doesn't always save your progress, so a dropped connection can mean starting again.

The new two-factor login needs mobile signal. Both agfood.ie and MyAgFood.ie now send a one-time code by text every time you log in. If coverage at the house is weak, DAFM recommends turning on Wi-Fi calling so the code arrives over your broadband. You can also log in with MyGovID if you already use it for other government services.

How AI helps with the portal

AI won't fill in your agfood.ie forms for you — the portal doesn't allow third-party integrations. But AI tools can help with the preparation that makes the actual form-filling quick.

Before you sit down at the portal, use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to:

1. Summarise what the application needs. Paste the scheme terms and conditions (from gov.ie) and ask: "What documents and information do I need to have ready before I start this application? Give me a checklist."

2. Draft text sections. Some applications need written descriptions — farm descriptions, project justifications for TAMS, environmental plans for ACRES. Draft these with AI first, then paste into the portal.

3. Check your figures. Before entering stocking rates, area declarations, or financial projections, ask AI to sanity-check your numbers: "I'm declaring 35 hectares with 50 suckler cows. Does my stocking rate calculation look right?"

Setting up your portal access

If you haven't used agfood.ie yet, here's the setup:

1. Register at agfood.ie. Have your PPSN and herd number ready, and allow time for your access details to arrive before any deadline.
2. Set up two-factor authentication. On first login you enter your password and Personal Access Code (PAC), then register a mobile number. A 6-digit code arrives by text, and every login after that uses a one-time code.
3. Keep your PAC safe. You need it again to change your registered mobile number or reset your password. If you get stuck, ring the DAFM helpdesk at 01 607 2000.
4. Poor signal? Turn on Wi-Fi calling. DAFM publishes step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android so login codes arrive over your broadband.

What does the new MyAgFood.ie add?

MyAgFood.ie was formally launched at the National Ploughing Championships and will replace agfood.ie in phases. DAFM lists five things the new platform adds:

• personalised dashboards
• a new nitrates planner, so you know your levels
• your scheme applications in one place
• an instant overview of your animal numbers and upcoming tests
• easy access to your payment information

Existing agfood.ie users do not need to register again. The same login details work on both platforms, and more features are being added on a phased basis.

What it costs

The portal itself is free. You need internet access — if your broadband is unreliable, your local library or Teagasc office usually has public internet you can use.

The real cost is the time to learn a new system. Budget an hour for your first session. After that, it gets faster.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register again for MyAgFood.ie?

No. Existing agfood.ie users keep the same username and password on both platforms. Both use two-factor authentication, so you enter a one-time code sent to your registered mobile each time you log in.

Do I need MyGovID to use agfood.ie?

No. The standard login is your DAFM username, password and a one-time text code. MyGovID is an optional alternative if you already use it for other government services.

What do I do if the login code doesn't arrive?

Check your mobile signal and wait a few minutes before trying again. In weak coverage areas, DAFM recommends turning on Wi-Fi calling so texts arrive over your broadband. If it still fails, ring the DAFM helpdesk to check your registered number.

Where to get help

• DAFM helpdesk: 01 607 2000 — they have a dedicated digital services team now
• Teagasc advisors can walk you through the portal during an office visit
• IFA offices in many counties run portal walkthrough sessions — ring your local branch
• agfood.ie has a help section with step-by-step guides, though they assume a level of computer confidence that not everyone has