Some 47% of farmers could be without income from environmental schemes such as ACRES or GLAS this year, an Irish Farmers Journal survey has found.The Department of Agriculture has yet to confirm proposed ‘gap payments’ for farmers who may be left out of the over-subscribed ACRES scheme in 2023. This gap in income would be greatest for beef, sheep and Connacht farmers, with some 53%, 49% and 55%, respectively, potentially without an environmental scheme payment this year.
Some 47% of farmers could be without income from environmental schemes such as ACRES or GLAS this year, an Irish Farmers Journal survey has found.
The Department of Agriculture has yet to confirm proposed ‘gap payments’ for farmers who may be left out of the over-subscribed ACRES scheme in 2023. This gap in income would be greatest for beef, sheep and Connacht farmers, with some 53%, 49% and 55%, respectively, potentially without an environmental scheme payment this year.
Meanwhile, sheep and beef farmers were the main applicants to ACRES, according to the survey, with some 58% and 50% from each sector stating they had applied.
The numbers are in contrast to the interest from dairy and tillage farmers with just 15% and 37%, respectively, having gone for the scheme.
As expected, the scheme will likely have a regional imbalance, with 60% of Connacht farmers surveyed applying and only 32% of those in Leinster.
Overall, 41% of farmers said they had applied to the agri-climate scheme, broadly in line with the 46,000 applicants confirmed by the Department of Agriculture.
Unsuitable scheme actions were deemed the main reason for not applying to ACRES by 21% of the farmers sitting out, while 18% said payments aren’t worthwhile.
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‘Gap payments’ pledged for ACRES farmers
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