The Department of Agriculture has provided an update on what it envisages eco schemes will look like in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan 2023-2027.

The update was delivered to farm organisations at a CAP consultative committee meeting last Thursday.

The main development is the listing of the five proposed measures farmers must comply with to secure payment under eco schemes.

The list is summarised below and expanded upon on page 13.

  • Non-productive areas and landscape features.
  • Extensive livestock production.
  • Limiting chemical nitrogen input.
  • Planting of native trees.
  • Use of GPS-controlled fertiliser spreader to apply chemical fertilisers
  • Proposed structure

    Eco schemes will be implemented on an annual basis and farmers will apply through the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), which will replace the current Basic Payment Scheme. It will be open to every farmer in the country who submits a BISS application. Participation is voluntary and farmers will have to opt in or out on an annual basis.

    The proposed funding model is to ringfence 25% of the overall direct payments ceiling.

    Based on this figure, the annual funding available for the intervention is estimated by the Department at approximately €297m per annum, amounting to a total indicative financial allocation of approximately €1.485bn for the period 2023 to 2027.

    While in practice eco schemes are voluntary, the majority of farmers will be hard-pressed not to apply, to have any chance of recouping the 25% of their payments lost to fund it. Therefore, it is expected that in the region of 130,000 eligible farmers could participate.

    Expected payment

    The Department of Agriculture could look to reduce the figure of 25% of direct payments being used to fund eco schemes, which would influence payment rates. It is expected that the payment mechanism will work on a flat-rate payment, with modelling at a rate of 25% of direct payments showing the payment to be in the region of €64/ha.

    Farmers will be expected to comply with two measures and the Department has said that where a farmer only selects one action or selects two but only complies with one, the expectation at present is that the farmer would receive a half-rate eco-scheme payment.

    Farmers will receive a payment on all eligible hectares on their holding, with the Department stating in documents seen by the Irish Farmers Journalthat payments will be made on additional costs incurred and income foregone, as set out in the EU regulations of the draft CAP strategic plan.

    IFA president Tim Cullinan said: “The suite of measures available under eco schemes must ensure that every farmer in the country has the option to comply in a straightforward manner. Eco schemes cannot have a high cost basis that will erode a farmer’s potential to regain funds which they have contributed and from an operational perspective avoid layers of bureaucracy and paperwork.”

    The measures explained

    The Department has stated that “the agricultural practices that constitute the eco schemes will be over and above conditionality requirements.

    “The design of the scheme will be key to ensuring high levels of participation. The aim is to ensure the widest possible take-up of the targeted actions, thereby ensuring a wide-ranging impact across the entire land area.”

    Measure 1: Non-productive areas and landscape features

    This measure would see farmers devote an increased proportion of land to non-productive areas and features, above the baseline required under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) 9.

    This GAEC dictates that tillage farmers will have to set aside at least 4% of their farm as non-productive areas, which may include land lying fallow or landscape features.

    Farmers can use catch crops or nitrogen-fixing crops to meet the requirement, but if they choose that option, the minimum percentage will increase to 7%, of which 3% must be non-productive.

    The Irish Farmers Journal also understands that ecological areas such as buffer strips and hedgerow features will also satisfy this requirement.

    The outstanding question in this area is what way these areas will be required to be managed, with regards to fencing requirements, and if they will also forego payment under the Areas of Natural Constraint.

    Measure 2: Extensive livestock production

    A farm’s stocking rate will dictate if farmers can comply with this measure.

    The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a maximum overall stocking rate figure of 85kg organic nitrogen for the calendar year is being considered at present but this, along with all of the other measures, is still open to change while the final suite of measures must be approved by the European Commission.

    It is also expected that there will be a minimum level of agricultural activity attached to this measure along the lines of what is currently in place under Areas of Natural Constraint.

    At present, in the region of 50,000 to 60,000 farmers would likely comply with this stocking rate figure, with this measure suiting extensive sheep and suckler farmers best.

    Measure 3: Limiting chemical nitrogen input

    This measure to limit the specified chemical nitrogen fertiliser limit for the calendar year will have the greatest effect on dairy and tillage farmers along with intensive livestock systems. It is expected that it will tie in with the proposed new Department fertiliser register. This means for the measure to be up and running by 2023, the new fertiliser register will also need to be in place by that date.

    The tree planting measure will require a minimum number of trees to be sown annually per eligible hectare.

    Measure 4: Planting of native trees

    Farmers selecting this measure will be required to plant a minimum number of native trees per eligible hectare in each year that the option is selected.

    The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a figure of a minimum of two trees per hectare is currently being considered, meaning that – for example – a 50ha farm would be required to plant a minimum of 100 trees each year.

    It is thought that trees may be allowed to be planted in a tree line and it is these details surrounding management (distance apart, fencing requirements, etc) that farmers will be keen to learn more about.

    Measure 5: Use of GPS-controlled spreaders to apply fertilisers

    This measure is targeted at improving the efficiency of applied nutrients and is probably most suited to more intensive enterprises using high volumes of fertiliser who can justify the investment required.

    This may be alleviated in cases if contractors are allowed to apply fertiliser for the farmers concerned or if there is a mechanism whereby equipment could be shared between holdings.

    GPS technology is being encouraged under eco schemes.