Farmers could receive a maximum payment of €10,000 each under the new flagship agri-environmental scheme in the next CAP.

The €1.5bn five-year scheme will have room for up to 50,000 farmers and will replace GLAS and the REAP pilot programme.

Some 20,000 farmers will be targeted in the first section of the new scheme, in which farmers will be expected to work with other farmers in their area to deliver a wider environmental good.

It will involve landscape measures and will attract a maximum payment of €10,000 and an average of €7,400 per farmer.

The second section is for individual farmers and will target 30,000 applicants. The maximum payment here will be €7,000 per farmer, with an average of €5,000.

Farmers can only take part in one section of the scheme.

The new agri-environmental scheme is just one of a raft of programmes which were announced this week for the next CAP.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue announced that convergence is to be set at 85% for Irish farmers.

Direct payments will be front-loaded for the first 30ha of every farm.

Eco schemes will be set at 25%, redistributing €293m each year.

Total direct payments will be capped at €66,000 per farmer.

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New CAP: dairy-beef, forestry and leader funding

500% increase in Organics funding

No change to payment in sheep welfare scheme

New €260m suckler scheme to replace BDGP

€250m per year ANC funds safe and €300m for TAMS