The latest Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) payments update published by the Department of Agriculture on 21 July 2025 shows payments made to 230 farmers last week.

These payments were made across the three payment categories as outlined below, with total payments standing at €513.5m.

The Department reports that balancing payments, in respect of participation in the Scheme in 2023, were made on 18 July 2025 to 19 participants, with those payments amounting to €6,317.04.

This brought the total paid in respect of participation in ACRES in 2023 to €248.7 million, paid to 44,323 participants, or 99% of all ACRES Tranche 1 participants.

It leaves a total of 317 farmers yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, the Department reports that 39 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000 respectively, and that in many instances, this will cover the entire amount of the payment due.

2024 advance payments

Advance payments in respect of 2024 amounting to 85% of the total amount due were made on 18 July 2025 to 97 participants, with those payments amounting to €376,306.94.

A total of €226m has been paid under 2024 payments to 52,594 farmers, or around 98% of all ACRES participants.

Payments have still to be made to 1,320 ACRES participants across Tranches 1 and 2. Of these 1,320 participants, 317 are also awaiting their balancing payment in respect of 2023, as that must be paid before the 2024 Advance payment may be made to them.

The 15% balancing payments for 2024 were completed to a further 123 participants last week amounting to €85,145.14.

This brought the total paid in balancing payments in respect of 2024 to over €38.7 million, to 51,283 participants. 95% of all participants are up to date with payments leaving over 2,500 farmers awaiting their balancing payment.