Just two farmers have appealed the inclusion of their lands as subject to GAEC 2 peatland and wetland rules.

This is despite widespread farm organisation anger at the imposition of the new requirements earlier this year. This year is the first year that cross compliance rules necessitate planning permission for any new drainage works on soils with over 30% dry matter for a depth of at least 45cm on undrained land and 30cm on drained land.

Failure to obtain this permission can result in Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) penalties for those whose lands are deemed GAEC 2 by the Department of Agriculture. The maintenance and cleaning of existing drains is still permitted as long as they are not deepened or lengthened.

“In relation to the number of GAEC 2 appeals received by the Department to date two appeals have been received,” a spokesperson for the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal this week.

“These cases have yet to be reviewed, and the total area involved in the two cases is less than 16 hectares of land.”