The Department of Agriculture launched a new facility on the agfood.ie portal last September whereby farmers or their advisers can check the area on a holding designated as space for nature. The figure available is a preliminary assessment to give farmers a guide as to how their farm currently rates.

The Department of Agriculture has explained that there may be errors in some landscape or beneficial features recorded on the maps and is encouraging farmers to check the maps to see if there are any features marked incorrectly and, equally important, if there are any omissions.

The facility only allows maps to be viewed at present but once the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application window opens towards the end of February, or their advisers, will then be able to make changes.

After you click the box 'view more details' this will be the next screen you will see detailing each individual land parcel and the percentage space for nature within each parcel.

This is an important process as submission of the 2023 BISS application is confirming that you are satisfied that your maps are correct and that the space for nature figure is accurate.

Below is a quick step-by-step guide on how to access the space for nature figures and the Department has also published how-to videos.

Step 1: login to agfood.ie

To log on to agfood.ie, you will need your username, three digits from your personal access code and password.

If you have forgotten your password, you can request a new password by clicking on the “forgotten password” link.

This facility is only available to those who have their mobile phone number registered with the Department.

Alternatively, you can email agfood@agriculture.gov.ie or call 049-436 8288.

This screenshot displays the view on the direct payments homepage. It shows the percentage space for nature area.

After you click the box 'view more details' this will be the next screen you will see detailing each individual land parcel and the percentage space for nature within each parcel.

on its website

Step 2: direct payments

There is essentially only one step once you are logged in. Scroll down through the list of options and click on “Direct Payments (BPS/Greening/SPS)”. This will bring you through to the new direct payments homepage portal.

There are two figures here: the current GAEC 8 contribution and the space for nature contribution.

Step 3: figure breakdown

There is a box, “View details” under the GAEC and eco-scheme sections.

Clicking on either of these boxes will bring you through to a breakdown on each individual land parcel. This will detail the features contributing to the figures and it also allows you to click through to see where these features are located on a map of each land parcel. This practice should be carried out for each parcel of lands. A guide on how to make changes to maps will be included in the Irish Farmers Journal Business of Farming pages once the 2023 BISS application opens.

This screenshot shows a typical grassland field with hedgerow marked on the boundary in green and a drain in blue on the north boundary.

This screenshot shows more marginal lands and in this case areas of scrub are outlined in red. It is important farmers check to see if these areas are identified correctly.