Latest news with #Agri-ClimateRuralEnvironmentScheme
Agriland
6 days ago
- General
- Agriland
Co. Carlow event to celebrate farmers working with nature
Carlow County Council as part of National Heritage Week will hold an event aimed at highlighting farmers that are actively working with nature within the county. The event will take place on Saturday, August 16 in Myshall Community Hall from 10:30a.m, and is funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. Farmers Eric and Catherine Osborne, Leonie Baldwin and Andrew Lloyd, Richard Brennan, and Michael Purcell have been short-listed to represent Carlow at the 2026 National Farming for Nature Ambassador Awards. These farmers were chose as a result of their due diligence in protecting nature on their farms. The event was organised by Carlow County Council biodiversity officer, Shane Casey as part of the Carlow Biodiversity Action Plan. Casey said: 'Some of the best examples of biodiversity in Co. Carlow occur on farmland, and it's important that we give full credit to the farming families who have been actively managing its conservation - for generations in many cases - and to support this critical role going forward. 'I've always been struck, when visiting farmers around Carlow, of the pride they place in their little corner of the world, and the efforts they take to retain, conserve, and restore nature on their farms. 'I grew up on a farm in the Burren, where farmers are recognised as custodians of that landscape. "We have high nature value landscapes here in Carlow also, and farmers have always been, and will continue to be, on the frontline of their conservation and restoration, and it's important to acknowledge and support this role.' The event will be attended by Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, who will give on opening address, reflecting on the important work these farmers are carrying out. Farming for Nature creative director, Dr. Brendan Dunford will also speak at the event on the role of an ambassador and the contribution farmers make to conserve and restore nature. Carlow County Council organised the event in collaboration with Carlow Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), Carlow Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), and Teagasc. Organisers say they hope to target both farming and non-farming members of Carlow communities, and celebrate this positive side of farming.
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
What are the Landscape Actions and how much will they pay?
Last week Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon confirmed that Landscape Actions (LAs) are now open for applications from Co-operation Project (CP) teams in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). These actions will support farmers in the CP approach of the scheme to target specific environmental priorities, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Landscape Actions are large-scale environmental actions focusing on issues such as threatened species, water quality protection, invasive species management and encroaching scrub management in species-rich grassland. The list of potential Landscape Actions and their specifications is currently in a draft state. It will remain in a draft state until a public consultation process on an appropriate assessment, required under environmental legislation, of the Landscape Actions has been completed. That public consultation has now been launched, the details of which are on the department website. The closing date of this consultation in August 15. In the meantime, the department has published a list of potential LAs, of which there a several dozen. These LAs are outlined in five groups, namely: habitat and wildlife support; invasive species; hydromorphology; scrub removal track installation; and infrastructure. The first three of these groups of LAs require training to be undertaken by participants. As can be see in the table below, this training is itself listed as an action for which payment can be received in those three groups. Payments to cover the cost of taking these training courses is €125 per one three-hour course, up to maximum of three courses. The list of Landscape Actions also includes the payment rate; the action unit (such as a metre, hectare, etc); the maximum payable action units per LA Annual Work Plan (AWP); and the maximum payment per AWP. For AWPs pertaining to registered farm partnerships, the maximum payable units and maximum payment per AWP will be multiplied by the number of holdings involved, up to a maximum of three holdings. The list of Landscape Actions in the five groups are as follows: LA name Payment per unit Action unit Max units Max payment 3-hour habitat support training €125 3-hour course 3 €375 Breeding wader delayed mowing €135 Hectare 15 €2,025 Construction of lesser horseshoe bat roost €963 Roost 2 €1,926 Corncrake early late cover crop €4,665 Hectare 0.4 €1,866 Corncrake early late cover natural €15,341 Hectare 0.2 €3,068 Corncrake delayed mowing/grazing €185 Hectare 15 €2,775 Decommissioning sheep dipping station €355 Station 2 €710 Exclosure €1,562 Hectare 4 €6,248 Geese and swans on grassland €150 Hectare 15 2,250 Permanent vegetation change 0.05ha €1,389 Woodland 2 €2,778 Permanent vegetation change 0.09ha €2,370 Woodland 2 €4,740 Predator proof fence €3.40 Metre 1,500 €5,098 Predator proof fence monitor (<500m) €620 Site 4 €2,480 Predator proof fence monitor (>500m) €931 Site 4 €3,724 Post fire molinia management €840 Hectare 4 €3,360 Removal of conifer treeline (small trees) €8 Metre 1,000 €8,000 Removal of conifer (large trees) €15 Metre 750 €11,250 Rural restorative lighting €351 Light fitting 10 €3,510 Removal of waste from commonage sites €349 Unit 5 €1,745 Targeted grazing (bovines on molinia) €717 Hectare 5 €3,585 Targeted grazing (equines gorse/molinia) €717 Hectare 5 €3,585 Targeted grazing (equines on gorse) €1,073 Site 2 €2,146 Targeted grazing (goats) €1,768 Site 2 €3,536 Virtual fencing €404 Collar 20 €8,080 Dry stone wall full rebuild €12 Metre 750 €9,000 Wildfire-friendly mowing €76 Hectare 15 €1,140 Bracken strimming €835.44 Hectare 2 €1,670.88 Bracken mechanical €242.76 Hectare 6 €1,456.56 Repair of stone walls 2 sides €3.03 Metre 1,000 €3,030 Repair of stone walls 1 side €1.59 Metre 500 €795 Riparian margin tree planting €13.93 Tree 120 €1,671.60 Riparian margin €5.50 Metre 1,000 €5,500 Riparian margin (Sheep fencing) €9.48 Metre 1,000 €9,480 Wader scrapes €265.28 Scrape 5 €1,326.40 LA name Payment per unit Action unit Max units Max payment 3-hour training €125 3-hour course 3 €375 Giant hogweed management (manual) €9,881 Hectare 1 €9,881 Giant hogweed management (chemical) €7,987 Hectare 1 €7,987 Giant hogweed follow up €5,006 Hectare 2 €10,012 Gunnera management €12,157 Hectare 2 €24,314 Gunnera follow up €6,461 Hectare 2 €12,922 Himalayan balsam management €5,647 Hectare 4 €22,588 Himalayan balsam follow up €2,572 Hectare 4 €10,288 Japanese knotweed (foliar spray) €8,279 Hectare 2 €16,558 Japanese knotweed (stem injection) €30,490 Hectare 1 €30,490 Japanese knotwood follow -up €3,812 Hectare 3 €11,436 Rhododendron/cherry laurel (severe) €20,250 Hectare 2 €40,500 Rhododendron/cherry laurel (high) €14,120 Hectare 3 €42,360 Rhododendron/cherry laurel (med) €6,951 Hectare 4 €27,804 Rhododendron/cherry laurel (low) €4,121 Hectare 10 €41,210 Rhododendron/cherry laurel follow up €1,064 Hectare 20 €21,280 Salmonberry management €8,625 Hectare 2 €17,250 Salmonberry follow up €4,350 Hectare 2 €8,700 LA name Payment per unit Action unit Max units Max payment 3-hour training €125 3-hour course 3 €375 Check dam stone €266 Dam Check dam wood €156 Dam Coir roll €54 Metre Ditch/peat reprofilling €6.32 Metre Drain blocking peat plug €74 Dam Drain blocking timber dam €144 Dam Engineered ditch €577 Engineered ditch Erosion control (geotextile) €4 Square metre In-ditch wetland €410 In-ditch wetland Leaky dam €158 Dam Livestock crossing point €1,022 Crossing Restoration action machine €250 Unit 2 €500 Restoration action transport €40 Hour 30 €1,200 Sediment capture pond €317 Pond Swale €23 Metre Water retention structure in karst €376 Structure Wildlife pond €588 Pond 4 €2,352 Wildlife pond (with liner) €1,744 Pond 2 €3,488 LA name Payment per unit Action unit Max units Max payment Machine scrub removal area (high) €2,006 Hectare 10 €20,060 Machine scrub removal area (medium) €854 Hectare 25 €21,350 Machine scrub removal area (low) €360 Hectare 50 €18,000 Machine scrub removal area (high tyres) €2,590 Hectare 10 €25,900 Machine scrub removal 2m linear €0.77 Metre 5,000 €3,850 Machine scrub removal 2m linear (tyres) €1.09 Metre 5,000 €5,450 Area scrub removal hand tools high €14,784.90 Hectare 0.5 €7,392.45 Area scrub removal hand tools med €9,550.55 Hectare 1 €9,550.55 Area scrub removal hand tools low €4,022.16 Hectare 3 €12,066.48 Area scrub removal hand tools scattered €480.97 Hectare 15 €7,214.55 Strip 2m scrub removal hand tools high €2.69 Metre 5,000 €13,450 Strip 2m scrub removal hand tools low €0.96 Metre 5,000 €4,800 Strip 4m scrub removal hand tools high €5.28 Metre 4,000 €21,120 Strip 4m scrub removal hand tools low €1.82 Metre 5,000 €9,100 Track drainage €820 Cross drain 10 €8,200 New vehicle access track installation €5.98 Metre 1,000 €5,984.45 Track resurfacing gravel €2.99 Metre 5,000 €14,950 LA name Payment per unit Action unit Max units Max payment Culverts €476.22 Culvert 10 €4,762.20 Fencing barbed wire €2.60 Metre 3,000 €7,800 Fencing permanent electric €1.52 Metre 3,000 €4,560 Fencing sheep wire €3.44 Metre 3,000 €10,320 Installation of gates €185.61 Gate 10 €1,856.10 Installation of heritage gates €496.61 Gate 10 €4,966.10 Mobile cattle feed troughs €59.22 Trough 6 €355.32 Mobile feed storage bins €175.20 Feed bin 4 €700.80 Pasture pumps €289.04 Pump 10 €2,890.40 Rainwater catchers €716.84 Rain catcher 2 €1,433.68 Solar electric fencer unit €257.50 Solar fencer 6 €1,545 Solar pumps €1,852.50 Pump 2 €3,705 Water storage tanks €798.66 Tank 4 €3,194.64 Water troughs €290.66 Trough 10 €2,906.60 Finally, the following table outlines certain of the above LAs that are considered time sensitive. Depending on when the AWP is approved (by the issue of an approval letter), the applicable LA will be delivered in that year of approval, or can only be delivered the following year:
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
235 Farmers Yet to Receive Final Acres Payments for 2023 Dafm
A total of almost €515 million has now been paid to farmers in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) confirmed. Balancing payments amounting to €11,342 were made on August 1 to 11 farmers for participation in the agri-environmental scheme in 2023. This means the total paid in respect of participation in ACRES in 2023 is €248.8 million to 44,405 farmers, or over 99% of all ACRES tranche 1 participants. DAFM said that 235 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these participants, 38 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively. The department added that in many instances, this will cover the entire amount of the payment due. Advance payments, in respect of ACRES participation in 2024, were made on August 1 to 118 participants, with those payments amounting to €504,572. This payment run brought total 2024 advance payments to almost €227 million, paid to 52,810 farmers, or almost 98% of all ACRES participants. Advance payments for 2024 have still to be made to 1,104 ACRES participants across tranches 1 and 2. Of these 1,104 farmers, 235 are also awaiting their balancing payment in respect of 2023, as that must be paid before the 2024 advance payment may be made to them. Balancing payments for participation in the scheme in 2024 commenced on May 15. The most recent payment run of August 1 paid €178,195 to a further 317 farmers. This brought the total paid in balancing payments in respect of 2024 to approximately €39 million, to 51,702 participants. DAFM said that this means that almost 96% of all participants are up to date with payments. ACRES payments will continue to be made weekly to the remaining participants once their contracts are cleared for payment. Meanwhile, DAFM said that 125,000 scorecards were issued at the beginning of June of which 65,546 have been submitted to date. ACRES scorecards must be submitted by August 31 to allow advance payments to be made in November. The claims system for Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) is also now open for applications. To date, 57 claims have been submitted for 2023 while 12 have been submitted for 2024. The department added that the application window for Landscape Actions remains open.
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Teagasc Staff Pay Costs Rose by 9 to E109m in 2024 Report
Newly published accounts show that pay costs at Teagasc increased by 9% last year to €109 million. The Teagasc 2024 Annual Report and Financial Statements shows that the average number of staff employed by the authority during the year was 1,489, up 50 (3%) on 2023. The annual salary and benefits for Teagasc director, Prof. Frank O'Mara, stood at €192,000 last year. The report outlined that 124 members of staff in Teagasc earned over €100,000 last year, which included salaries, overtime, allowances, and other benefits. The total fees paid to the Teagasc Authority and committee stood at €90,346 last year, along with €30,982 in expenses. In 2024, 140 staff received overtime payments (2023: 148), with the highest aggregate amount paid to an individual €29,158 (2023: €28,802). The report outlined that total Teagasc income in 2024 was €242 million, which was €10 million (4%) greater than the previous year. Meanwhile, total expenditure was €246 million, €9 million (4%) greater than in 2023. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) allocated €170.45 million in grant aid to Teagasc in 2024, an increase of €8.254 million on the previous year. The accounts show non-pay expenditure reduced by 5.5% to €74 million, with general operating expenses of €52 million, down 5% on 2023. Capital expenditure increased by 53% in 2024 to €14.4 million, while superannuation (pension programme) costs reduced by 2% to €46 million. The average number of monthly retirement benefits paid during the year was 1,759 (2023: 1,768). Livestock trading income was just over €5 million in 2024, up from €3.9 million in 2023. €755,000 was spent on buying livestock in 2024, compared to €353,000 in the previous year. The report noted that total procurement-related expenditure was €72.9 million in 2024. Teagasc found that of 301 purchase orders worth over €25,000, with total value of €26.7 million, the value of non-compliant purchase orders was €191,930 (2023: €186,064). "Notwithstanding that these procurements were non-compliant, Teagasc is satisfied that good value for money was achieved," the report stated. Despite progression of female staff and the appointment of women to management positions, Teagasc's gender pay gap was 14% as at June 30, 2024. A new diversity and inclusion strategy to be launched in 2025 will include "a sharp focus on reducing the pay gap". The report shows that Teagasc advisory service had contracts with 43,735 farmer clients in 2024. In total, there were 142,834 one-to-one advisory contacts in 2024, including 21,000 farm visits, over 63,000 phone consultations and 59,000 office consultations. Teagasc supported farmers with 42,210 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) applications, and almost 15,773 farmers in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). The organisation hosted 288 farm walks, 251 workshops, 387 meetings and seminars, along with 2,954 discussion group meetings. The Teagasc website had over 4.4 million visits in 2024. There were 3,600 learners across full-time, part-time and distance education courses provided by Teagasc, including a number of new apprenticeship programmes. Teagasc researchers published some 654 peer-reviewed articles during 2024. Last year, Teagasc was awarded external research funding valued at €53 million, up from €37 million in 2023, which will be drawn down over the next three to six years. Almost 12.5% of this was for 19 projects funded by the European Commission, which had a total value of €283 million with the contribution to Teagasc being €6.6 million.
Agriland
6 days ago
- General
- Agriland
DAFM reminds farmers that ACRES deadline is approaching
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has advised farmers who are participating in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) that the assessment and scoring of land / parcels is underway, and the deadline for completion is August 31. According to DAFM, non commonage land / parcels in ACRES which attract a results-based payment are currently being assessed and scored by ACRES advisors. Scorecards were issued to ACRES advisors from June 3 2025, in respect of the land / parcels to be scored this year. There are 10 scorecards used for the assessment of the land / parcels, on which results-based payments are made. Seven of the scorecards are habitat-focused, while three are species-specific, such as chough, breeding wader and corncrake. Advisors use one or more scorecards, relevant to the land being scored. As this is the mid-point of the scoring period, the department is reminding advisors that completed scorecards should be returned within 14 days of initiating the first scorecard and before the last date for submission of scorecards, which is August 31. It is essential that completed scorecards are submitted by the deadline to facilitate the timely issue of advance payments to participants for 2025 later this year. Commonage land in the ACRES co-operation zones is also currently being assessed and scored, in the respective zones. Meanwhile commonage in ACRES outside those co-operation zones is being assessed and scored by contractors engaged by DAFM. According to DAFM the claims system for the submission of claims by an ACRES participant, or their advisor, in respect of the Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) is now open. Applications for payment should be submitted as soon as possible. Finally, the Landscape Actions element of ACRES is open for applications for actions that will support farmers in the co-operation approach of the scheme to target specific environmental priorities. These are large-scale environmental actions focusing on issues such as threatened species, water quality protection, invasive species management and encroaching scrub management in species-rich grassland. The ACRES co-operation project (CP) teams will be engaging with farmers in their areas, and will be preparing applications on their behalf in the form of a Landscape Action Annual Works Plan.
