ACRES Courses and October Tasks for Completion
Type Media Article
By Sinéad Devaney, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
October 2023 has been a busy month to date for agricultural schemes and compliance with deadline dates. I am including reminders of some of these here:
National Genotyping Programme – sign up to this via ICBF by 31st October 2023 to start using double tissue tags, one for BVD and one for genotyping.
Lime Scheme – Farmers in this scheme must upload quarry and contractor dockets to Agfood for lime purchased and spread by 31st October 2023. Note: an update to this Scheme allows the lime to be spread up to 31st March 2024 BUT the lime must be invoiced and paid for by 31st October date.
Animal weights for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and the National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme must be submitted to ICBF by 1st November 2023.
Farm Safety Measure:
This Scheme closing date is Friday 27th October 2023. Under this Scheme, a farmer or their advisor can submit an expression of interest on Agfood before investing in the equipment. Following this, the status immediately updates to “Submitted” which means the applicant is accepted into the Measure and can proceed to purchase the equipment.
From 20th November of this year it will be mandatory for all operators of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs /Quads) to undergo training and to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a helmet, when using such vehicles for work. The farm safety measure will support the purchase of quad bike helmets and help raise awareness of these new requirements. This Measure promotes farm safety and incentivises farmers to purchase and use farm safety equipment. It will provide a financial contribution to participating farmers for a maximum of two quad helmets and four PTO shaft covers. The grant aid will be at a rate of 60% subject to a maximum eligible cost of €100 per PTO shaft cover (maximum grant €60/PTO shaft cover) and €150 per quad bike (ATV) helmet (maximum grant €90/helmet).
ACRES - Annual Declaration for Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) 2023:
One of the actions that some farmers with lower stocking rates (i.e.< 100 kgs organic N/ha) could opt for under ACRES Tranche 1 was Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS). In previous agri-environment schemes the farmer declared that year’s slurry spreading details by completing a paper form. For ACRES, the Annual Declaration for LESS will be completed on the AgFood system and can be completed by either the ACRES Advisor acting for an ACRES participant or can be completed by the participant themselves. The DAFM has contacted farmers who chose the LESS action to inform them that the LESS form is now available for completion online under the Agfood system.
Under the LESS action ALL slurry spread on the farm whether home produced or imported must be spread each year by band spreading, injection systems or trailing shoe. Pig slurry is not eligible for this payment. A minimum of 50 cubic meters of slurry must be applied each year of the ACRES contract. Note that 1 cubic metre (1m3) is equal to 1,000 litres or 220 gallons. The farmer must keep documentary evidence of the volume spread and the method used. Contractor receipts should be kept safe also as this information can be sought if you have an ACRES inspection, along with your record sheets. There is no need to upload receipts when completing the online form.
In 2023 the last date for spreading fertiliser was 15th October 2023. The online LESS return form must be completed by 31st October 2023. The DAFM has advised that failure to complete and submit the LESS return will result in a delay in making the 2023 ACRES advance payment, financial penalties and ultimately, may result in the rejection of the LESS action from a participant’s ACRES contract. Contact your Teagasc advisor or agricultural agent for assistance with the LESS return form.
ACRES Courses:
Farmers who are in the ACRES Scheme (Tranche 1) must attend an ACRES training course in the first year of the Scheme. This is to enable farmers to gain more knowledge and understanding of the actions they have committed to undertake as part of the ACRES scheme. The training also includes demonstrations and advice on good environmental practices. Currently Teagasc is providing ACRES courses for clients in the Teagasc Galway/Clare region and is contacting farmers to take part in the courses as they are being organised in their local office area. Private Agricultural Consultants are also providing ACRES courses. The course is a one-day mandatory course comprising of a morning and an afternoon session. One of these sessions must be delivered on a host farm. Each participant receives a payment of €156 for satisfactorily completing the course.
Finally, “Save the Date” for the Teagasc National Beef Conference to be held in The Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe on Tuesday 21st November. More details to follow.
Contact your local Teagasc Advisor or Consultant for further information on any of the above.
