Farmers in the co-operation stream of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) have from now until 17 October 2025 to apply for non-productive investments (NPIs) for 2025.

NPIs are environmental actions available to support co-operation participants to enhance sustainability on their farms.

Making the announcement of the application window opening, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said there are a wide range of these complementary environmental actions available to farmers in ACRES co-operation.

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“With the NPI application window opening today [Tuesday 5 August] for 2025, I encourage all ACRES co-operation participants to engage with their ACRES adviser to discuss the way in which their land could be enhanced through the implementation of an NPI and to avail of this opportunity to increase the environmental standard of their land and thereby attract a higher rate of payment through the resultant increase in the scoring of that land.”

The Minister added that it is the same application process for NPIs as it was for the past two years of the scheme in 2023 and 2024.

“Applications, in the form of NPI annual work plans, are prepared and submitted by ACRES advisers on behalf of ACRES co-operation participants.

Window

“The NPI application window is opening earlier this year, which may give ACRES co-operation farmers an opportunity to discuss possible NPIs with their ACRES adviser when the adviser is out on their farm assessing and scoring their lands, with the deadline for submission of applications being Friday 17 October 2025,” he said.

NPI applications were submitted on behalf of 4,800 ACRES farmers in 2024, which was an increase on the number received in 2023, Minister Heydon noted.

“Some of those NPIs have now been implemented on foot of the approvals issued in respect of 2023 and 2024 applications and the NPI claims system is now open for the submission of claims.

“We will see the value of those NPIs in real terms from now and it is worthwhile for ACRES co-operation farmers to explore with their ACRES adviser the options available to them in the form of NPIs,” he said.