\Ramona Farrelly The IFA has called for additional funding to be made available under the Future Growth Loan Scheme (FGLS), as €160m has been drawn down by farmers to date. Lenders have reported that the agri sector has used up almost all of its allocation under the scheme. A maximum of 40% or €200m of the low-cost loan fund was ring-fenced for the agricultural sector. The competitively-priced loans under the FGLS proved popular with farmers because it allowed for unsecured lending up to €500,000, according to the IFA national farm business chair Rose Mary McDonagh. “The quick drawdown by farmers highlights the strong demand. The funding has fuelled significant long-term and strategic investment on farms across the country," she said.