The Department of Agriculture has a guide to land eligibility for all its direct payment schemes online. This booklet is a guide to help farmers understand and comply with the rules on land eligibility for the various area-related EU schemes. According to the Department, only “agricultural lands” are eligible. Areas used for arable crops, vegetables, nurseries and land used to grow grass, be it naturally occurring grass or from seed, is eligible. Farmers with land in mountainous or low-lying areas are more at risk of land becoming ineligible. They should continue to monitor parcels to ensure they meet the Department’s conditions for EU schemes.
Rushes
Eligible – Rushes managed by grazing and topping. Rushes increasing in density with evidence of grazing by animals are eligible also. However, ongoing management is required to avoid the land becoming ineligible.Ineligible – Tall rushes and areas not accessed by animals. Heather
The Department says low immature heather is an edible species which is grazed by mountain sheep breeds, in particular, and other sheep and cattle where it occurs at lower elevations. Land with heather in this state is eligible. Tall, woody heather, which is no longer being accessed by animals, is not eligible.
Ferns
Ferns or bracken are inedible to farm animals, according to the Department. They emerge annually in early summer and start to die off when the first frosts arrive in autumn. Where ferns have grass underneath, it will result in the land being in a grazable state. Consequently, the area is eligible. Ferns with no grass underneath will not be grazable by animals and is therefore not eligible and the area must be deducted in full.
Hedgerows
Hedgerows must be maintained to prevent them from expanding into the parcel. However, for the majority of farmers, the hedge-cutting season does not open until 31 August. Hedge-cutting during August is only allowed under strict criteria concerning overgrown hedges and their impact on roads.
The Department of Agriculture has a guide to land eligibility for all its direct payment schemes online. This booklet is a guide to help farmers understand and comply with the rules on land eligibility for the various area-related EU schemes. According to the Department, only “agricultural lands” are eligible. Areas used for arable crops, vegetables, nurseries and land used to grow grass, be it naturally occurring grass or from seed, is eligible. Farmers with land in mountainous or low-lying areas are more at risk of land becoming ineligible. They should continue to monitor parcels to ensure they meet the Department’s conditions for EU schemes.
Rushes
Eligible – Rushes managed by grazing and topping. Rushes increasing in density with evidence of grazing by animals are eligible also. However, ongoing management is required to avoid the land becoming ineligible.Ineligible – Tall rushes and areas not accessed by animals. Heather
The Department says low immature heather is an edible species which is grazed by mountain sheep breeds, in particular, and other sheep and cattle where it occurs at lower elevations. Land with heather in this state is eligible. Tall, woody heather, which is no longer being accessed by animals, is not eligible.
Ferns
Ferns or bracken are inedible to farm animals, according to the Department. They emerge annually in early summer and start to die off when the first frosts arrive in autumn. Where ferns have grass underneath, it will result in the land being in a grazable state. Consequently, the area is eligible. Ferns with no grass underneath will not be grazable by animals and is therefore not eligible and the area must be deducted in full.
Hedgerows
Hedgerows must be maintained to prevent them from expanding into the parcel. However, for the majority of farmers, the hedge-cutting season does not open until 31 August. Hedge-cutting during August is only allowed under strict criteria concerning overgrown hedges and their impact on roads.
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