ACRES ‘ASKS’

Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe

ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) is in its first year for applicants in tranche 1, with approximately 46,000 farmers participating. These are operating under either the ACRES General Scheme or the ACRES Co-Operation. At the launch of ACRES it was planned to admit 30,000 applicants for tranche 1 but due to demand the big ‘ask’ for the Department of Agriculture was to accept the extra 16,000 farmers; which they did. The next ask- Is what numbers will be accepted into Tranche 2 which is now being planned? The original policy was to have 50,000 farmers participating in the overall ACRES. This would only leave room for another 4000 places under Tranche 2!

ACRES General Approach

The general scheme operates similar to the old GLAS scheme with lists of voluntary actions. The main difference is that some results based actions can be chosen where it’s possible to get higher payments for the quality of the environmental results delivered. There is also a greater focus in having the right action or measure in the right place. The actions selected have to agree with certain background criteria and mapped layers. This is causing confusion on the ground, in that there could be two neighbouring holdings which could have totally different actions. This in turn could lead to different payments for each holding.

ACRES Co-operation Approach

Land included in the ACRES Co-operation (CP) falls within eight identified zones, which comprise of high nature value farmlands. The areas inside the mapped CP area are subject to ‘results based scoring’ in order to claim payments. The only general type actions allowed in CP areas are stone wall maintenance, rare breeds and low emission slurry spreading (LESS). The focus is to incentivise area based environmental improvements.

The concept of ‘ring fencing’ is causing confusion- this is where funds are locked on the lands in the CP area at a set notional score thus the funds available for the general type actions could be restricted. If we take an example of a farmer with 20 hectares in CP. The 20 hectares is multiplied by a ring fencing figure of €300/ha = €6000 (locked). The maximum payment in CP is €7000, so this farmer can claim another €1000 under general actions if available. The ring fenced sum becomes available after the result based scoring, but may be lower or higher than amount ring fenced. 

The biggest issue can be achieving a minimum score to secure any payment. This leads to a new concept being introduced for the CP areas called Non-Productive Investments (NPIs). These are actions available to the farmer to address specific environmental issues on the farm. The ‘big ask’ is to directly contribute to environmental objectives or increase the farmers capacity to improve field scores through management. These actions will operate on grant basis with a once off payment for measures undertaken. Another concept yet to be announced are Landscape Actions and these will be more community or group based, rather than on a single farm basis for the NPI’s.

Recent environmental schemes had limitations on numbers admitted.  From a farmers perspective if applying for Tranche 2 it would be important to optimise the chance of admission as plans submitted can be subject to a type of screening process known as Tiering. This is the marks achieved for the actions selected. So the ‘ask’ of some farmers, in order to get admission to ACRES is to opt for extra actions to improve their Tiering status.

The paperwork and specifications seen to date are close on 300 pages of material. Will it all work for everyone or get lost in applications and red tape? Can the farmer with the help of his/her advisor help focus on the particular environmental issues on their farm for the betterment of all and is society and the consumer prepared to pay for this? Will every farmer who applies get into ACRES? All Big Asks!