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Agriland
15 hours ago
- Agriland
MEP tells commission 'stop moving goalposts' on derogation
An Irish MEP has called on the European Commission to clarify the specific conditions required for Ireland to maintain its nitrates derogation. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) yesterday (Monday, July 7) revealed that the commission has told Ireland it 'must demonstrate compliance' with the Habitats Directive when granting farmers a nitrates derogation. There are 600 sites in Ireland designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Sites range in size from 1 hectare up to 76,000ha. These sites are designated as either Special Conservation Areas (SAC) and or Special Protection Areas (SPA) and are generally referred to as Natura 2000 sites. Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly described the nitrates derogation as "essential to the viability of Ireland's grass-based farming model". The Independent Ireland MEP expressed frustration on behalf of Irish farmers for the additional European regulations that are now being demanded. 'The job of Irish farmers is getting tougher. After months of diligent work on water quality aimed at retaining our nitrates directive, comes yet another demand. "An assessment under the Habitats Directive was never part of this process up to now. It was never needed,' Mullooly said. The MEP said that in improving water quality and meeting existing environmental requirements, the Irish family farmers have delivered on those requests. He added that this has been confirmed by the latest water quality report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showing "significant reductions in nitrate levels'. 'It is the clear understanding of the Irish farming sector that adopting new technologies and strategies to protect water quality, particularly in areas with higher stocking rates per acre, would be sufficient to meet the required standards to retain the derogation. "This derogation is not optional, it's vital for the livelihoods of thousands of farm families. 'Farmers need clarity. I'm calling on the Irish agriculture minister [Martin Heydon] to engage with the commissioner and seek clear, concise guidelines and stop this ridiculous charade that's going on, before the commission moves the goalposts again," Mullooly said.
Agriland
15 hours ago
- Agriland
Farmers seek clarification on GAEC 2 appeals as 'concerns' raised
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to address farmer concerns and "move quickly to clarify the scope of GAEC 2 appeals". DAFM has launched an appeals process for the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2) with details released this week. GAEC 2 is the conditionality standard of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) related to the protection of peatlands and wetlands. It formally entered into force on May 1, which means that any works carried out before that date do not come under the scope of the condition. Under the condition, the maintenance of an existing drain is permitted and replacement is acceptable. However, new drainage on never-drained parcels of land will require planning permission or an exemption from the local authority, as is currently the case under national legislation. IFA rural development chair John Curran said details seem to "infer that appeals are restricted to those who plan new drainage works in 2025, with signed declarations and evidence of planned drainage works required to accompany applications". "This is very much at odds with what was briefed to us at both national and stakeholder meetings on this very emotive issue, and as I understand it, what has also been briefed to planners recently," Curran said. "It will cause consternation and annoy many farmers unless quickly clarified. 'We understood that soil samples; a planner's report; and geo-tagged photos may be required, but this is a curveball altogether." Curran said that all farmers must be given the opportunity to appeal the GAEC 2 status of individual parcels, "irrespective of whether lands were ever drained in the past or not, or whether new drainage is planned in 2025 or not". 'We have been getting calls from farmers for months now since indicative GAEC 2 maps were released saying there is no way individual parcels on their land are GAEC 2 and they will very much be contesting it," the rural development chair continued. "They have to be given that opportunity, and where backed by science and soil samples, have the GAEC-2 obligations removed." Curran said the IFA has engaged with DAFM seeking clarification on the matter, and will "continue to do until resolved".
Agriland
15 hours ago
- Agriland
How can farmers ensure they are compliant with schemes?
The Agriculture Appeals Office has offered advice to farmers to ensure they are compliant with the terms of certain farm schemes. Established in 2002, the office provides an appeals service to farmers who are not satisfied with decisions of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) concerning designated schemes operated by the department. 483 appeals were made by farmers in relation to farm schemes in 2024, down from 624 in the previous year, according to the office's annual report. 636 appeals were brought to a conclusion throughout the year, down from the 652 closed in 2023, but above the ten-year average of 628. Of the 636 appeals closed in 2024, 43% were allowed, partially allowed or revised, 44% were disallowed and 13% were withdrawn, invalid or out of time. As part of the annual report, the Agriculture Appeals Office published a series of recommendations for farmers to ensure scheme compliance. The office said that it is important that applicants familiarise themselves fully with the terms, conditions and guidelines of schemes before submitting their claims. "An appeals officer is required to adhere to the terms and conditions of a scheme and any relevant legislation in making a decision on an appeal. Where farmers are uncertain, they should consider engaging a professional advisor or other competent person to assist them in understanding the scheme rules and requirements," the report said. The office recommended that farmers familiarise themselves with the requirements of conditionality, which consists of Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) in respect of the water, soil and biodiversity of ecosystems. It added that all farmers must be compliant with the legal requirements of the nitrates regulations. "Farmers should always be aware of storage requirements for their herd size and ensure that they meet the requirements in full. This is especially important where herd size is increasing," the report said. Certain conditionality penalties can have "significant implications". For example, any breach of the 170Kg/ha nitrogen (N) limit for those in the Organic Farming Scheme will cause a 100% penalty on payments. While certain conditionality breaches may result in an Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) action being deemed ineligible for payment. The office reminded farmers that appeals must be made within three months of the date of notification of the department's decision being appealed against. The report also lists specific recommendations for farmers in relation to individual schemes as follows: Complimentary Income Scheme Young Farmers (CISYF) A significant number of appeals are due to applications being rejected due to applicants failing to demonstrate financial and managerial control, in accordance with the CIS-YF terms and conditions; Farmers should be very clear that there is no transitional period, when moving from a joint bank account to a new bank account, where a young farmer is named. Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) An applicant should only submit a payment claim after the actual payment is made. Applicants should always be aware that claim inspections/validations may in addition to invoices request bank statements, cheque/ electronic payments etc. to ensure that the TAMS payment claim was only submitted after the item was owned possessed and was fully paid for; Applicants should also be aware post-dated cheques, after the date of a payment claim, are not considered eligible payment. Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) The applicant is fully responsible for maintaining their organic licence and status, the Appeals Officer has no statutory role regards the awarding or withdrawal of an organic licence; OFS participants must remain aware that withdrawal of the organic licence by the department or by the organic certifying body, or allowing their organic licence to lapse, within the term of an OFS contract shall mean termination from the scheme and recoupment of all aid paid; The office said it has noted a perception that there is a derogation from the organic standards during the 2-year conversion period prior to full symbol organic status. Applicants should be aware that there is no derogation. The conversion period is an adjustment period for land/animals etc. and the costs associated with it are recognised in the OFS. The organics terms and conditions should make it clear that there is no derogation from organic standards during the conversion period. Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Applicants should familiarise themselves with the stocking density requirements, even in the event of herd restrictions; All applicants should be aware of new livestock unit (LU) values in place from the start of 2023, livestock unit values have reduced for certain categories of animals. Sheep and goat farmers should be vigilant in returning their Sheep/Goat Census and ensure their flock registers are up to date; ANC applicants should ensure that they: make an application (take care not to untick the 'tick box'), meet average annual stocking density and maintain 28 consecutive weeks stock retention period. Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme
