Hedges with gaps in them will now count in full for the purpose of ecological focus area (EFA) calculation.

However, entire grassy banks will still not count for EFA in 2015 and there will most likely be some constrictions applied to hedges.

It is thought that portions of a hedge that have no woody species present, especially towards the ends that adjoin other hedges, will not be allowed.

Clarity on what a hedge needs to be for EFA purposes has proven difficult to secure. Previous Commission definitions were totally impractical.

Paud Evans told an Irish Tillage and Land Use Society meeting last week that a hedge that is acknowledged for cross compliance will be acceptable for EFA.

However, the woody element will still apply, but the amount of gaps will not be an issue.

There will still be some rules used to define what is acceptable or not. A 300-metre hedge with 200m of a slightly gappy woody hedge in the middle with 50m of non-woody portion at either end will only contribute 200m of EFA.

But if the woody species were distributed all through the 300m, then it seems that the full length would apply.

At the same meeting, Paud emphasised that all applications associated with greening must be completed online for 2015.

However, he said that 2,200 farmers, who were identified as having more than 10ha of crops in 2013/14, have not yet registered for the Department’s online facility.

This should be done as soon as possible at www.agfood.ie or by contacting the helpdesk at 1890 252118 or 0761 064424. Another option is to authorise an agricultural consultant or Teagasc adviser to apply on your behalf.