Farmers have just three weeks to submit ACRES NPI applications

Farmers in ACRES Co-operation are being reminded of the closing date to submit ACRES Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) applications.

The deadline for the submission of applications this year is Friday 17 October.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said he wants to ensure that all farmers in the ACRES Co-operation approach are aware of the closing date and to engage with their ACRES adviser in sufficient time if they wish to apply for NPIs this year.

"I want to remind them of the wide range of complementary environmental actions, available under the NPI element of the ACRES Co-operation approach, which can assist them to enhance the environmental standard of their land, which should positively impact their scores and, in turn, the level of their annual payment," he said.

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

NPI applications have been submitted at a "steady rate" since the application window opened on 5 August 2025, he said.

"I also understand that Department staff responded to a lot of queries about NPIs at the recent National Ploughing Championships. I therefore consider it timely to remind ACRES Co-operation farmers about the deadline for submitting an NPI application this year. The system for the submission of claims in respect of the implementation of approved NPIs under the previous two application windows is also open, with payments scheduled to commence next month," he said.