This week, I am due the final instalment of my basic farm payment.

Next year will be the last of the “normal” payments, apart from the corrosive effects of the continuing impact of convergence.

That said, it is clear that within the broad parameters of the new policy laid down by the Council decisions in Brussels, the minister and the Department have come up with a sensible group of measures that should enable most people to qualify for the new eco-payment that will partly replace the 30% greening payment that operated for the last seven years or so.

Having gone through the options outlined in the recent Irish Farmers Journal coverage, I should be able to qualify for the compulsory two of the options presented.

One of the other items specified is the use of fully enabled GPS fertiliser spreader equipment

The proposed obligation to have 7% of the farm classified as an environmental focus area (EFA) is already fully achieved, with the Department’s area aid maps and calculations giving a figure of 11%.

I am assuming that precisely the same criteria will apply under the new scheme.

One of the other items specified is the use of fully enabled GPS fertiliser spreader equipment.

Last year, when I was buying a new spreader with the aid of the TAMS scheme, the inclusion of full GPS was a pre-condition of qualifying for the grant.

I am still not sure if we will qualify for the extensive grassland payment

The extra specification added very significantly to the cost but, at this stage, I am glad we fulfilled the conditions imposed, as it has saved us having to look around for other options to meet the conditions for the new scheme.

I am still not sure if we will qualify for the extensive grassland payment.

Away from the paperwork and the policy implications of the CAP and climate change, the crops are clearly thriving in the best autumn we have had for many years.

Last week’s cold snap did no harm and the dry weather has meant that I am still not clear if the damp spots we drained during the spring and summer are dry because of climate or the work we did, but presumably with the first downpour it will become clearer.

The good ground conditions have also let us get all the autumn herbicides out on the winter crops, including growth regulator on the oilseed rape.