Farmers looking to take part in the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027, now only need to receive a valid payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) for one year before their application.

This change was made following the midterm review of the 2023 – 2027 National Forestry Programme, where the previous requirement for qualification was to have received four valid payments under BISS.

This change in the definition of a farmer to qualify for the scheme was made to increase access for young farmers, farmers inheriting land and farmers who were leasing their land and are taking it back to farm so they can avail of support more quickly, Barry Delaney director of forestry for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on Wednesday.

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Farmers must pass the ‘active farmer check’ to qualify which means the applicant claiming payments on the land must be the person farming and/or managing the land.

Farming activities may include meeting a minimum stocking rate of 0.10 livestock unit per forage hectare, producing crops, cutting hay or silage, maintaining landscape features, according to the Department.

Additionally, forests established and maintained under the afforestation scheme will be eligible to receive payment of an annual premium for a period of 20 years for farmers and 15 years for non-farmers.

“80% of applicants are farmers and 20% are non-farmers currently,” Delaney stated.