The second application opportunity for landscape actions funded through Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has been opened to farmers taking part in the scheme’s co-operation zones.

The closing date for the current application window will be announced in due course and it is planned that another chance will be offered to eligible ACRES participants to apply later in the year.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon told participants that the actions could help boost their results-based scores and payment levels in the years ahead.

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“While the implementation of these landscape actions will benefit the overall environment or landscape, their implementation should also assist participants to improve the habitat quality of their land, which will become evident when that land is assessed and scored under ACRES, thereby resulting in a higher payment,” Minister Heydon said.

Minister Heydon urged ACRES co-operation participants to engage with their respective ACRES project teams to assess which landscape actions may be suitable for their lands.

Landscape actions funded through ACRES include measures focused on combatting invasive species, managing encroaching scrub in species-rich grassland, improving the condition of threatened species and protecting water quality.

The minister said that: “I am pleased that this, the second application window for Landscape Actions, is being opened in early 2026, so promptly after the issue of the decision letters last month in respect of applications submitted in the first application window, as it is important to maintain momentum and progress.”

Decision letters for the first application window for ACRES landscape actions issued two weeks ago.

This window had closed to applications in September but all actions applied for were required to undergo an “extensive environmental screening process” due to the measures being proposed for environmentally-sensitive areas.