There has been a huge reaction to last week’s exclusive first viewing of priority areas identified for the cooperation element of the Agri-Environment Climate Measure (AECM).
To recap on the main features, the AECM Co-Operation Measure has a target of 20,000 participants and offers a potential maximum payment of €10,000, with the average payment expected by the Department of Agriculture to be in the region of €7,000 per participant.
The AECM Co-Operation Measure entry route will only be available to farmers in the defined high-priority geographical areas outlined in the map.
Participating farmers will have the option of undertaking general AECM measures but in addition to this, the proposed CAP strategic plan document outlines that farmers will be offered tailored farm, landscape and catchment measures or actions. Local project teams will be established to assist with the implementation of the scheme at local level.
These actions have been designed to progress beyond the minimum requirements outlined under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) and are expected to complement measures introduced under conditionality and eco schemes.
The CAP document submitted to the European Commission for approval states that the measures will be linked to requirements under Ireland’s Priority Action Framework for Natura 2000 and the EU Water Framework Directive.
Starting point
The plan is to develop eight Local Project teams containing project managers, supporting administrative staff and relevant experts including hydrologists, ecologists, ornithologists, environmental scientists – field officers and farm advisers.
The tender for these project teams was announced last week.
The CAP document highlights that collaboration with State agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and other non-governmental organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland will be key to ensure appropriate targets are put in place and the correct resources used.
The second element to the AECM Co-Operation Measure is the tailoring of farm/landscape type actions which require the co-operation of more than one farmer, or actions on connected land parcels.
Examples of these include commonage actions, large-scale drainage or rewetting actions, landscape prevention or enhancement actions and those related to invasive species control, scrub control, upland fire control and the provision of access roads and water and nest protection.
Some of the actions outlined will be mandatory but there will also be scope to fund some results-based payments which are farm based and will be designed to reward farmers for specific results/targets set. Examples under this area include targets related to the management of water tables on carbon-rich soils.
The proposed actions are grouped together based on the relevant baseline element farmers must abide by either through GAEC or Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs). A brief explanation of these actions and the areas which they focus on are outlined as follows.
Category 1 actions
Revegetation of bare areas.There is one action outlined here with the commitment to ensure the revegetation of bare areas in areas deemed as having a high environmental value in sensitive areas. The baseline set for this measure is the maintenance of permanent pasture based on a ratio of permanent grassland to agricultural area and using 2018 as a reference year.
Category 2 actions
Peatland drain blocking.Water retention measures.Bridging.Earth banks and soil bunds.Provision of swales/settlement ponds.Floodplain management.There are six actions grouped together related to GAEC 2 – protection of peatland and wetlands and SMR 2 and SMR 4. The CAP proposals highlight that these actions go beyond the normal commitment by ensuring blanket bogs are “actively restored so that they can start functioning and accumulating peat and acting as a carbon sink”.
They are highlighted as important landscape features for holding water. Water is retained on farm, with nutrients and sediment captured before being released into river systems.
These goals will be achieved through implementing regenerative agricultural practices on peatlands. It says this will include the practical implementation of emissions reductions via restoration of bio-sequestration capacities of peat soils. It will be monitored and rewarded through the development of a results-based payment scorecard for carbon farming on a catchment basis.
Category 3 actions
Controlled burning.Grazed fuel breaks/fire breaks.Cutting rides through scrub.Installation of upland ponds.There are four actions grouped together under this heading which is linked to GAEC 3 – Ban on burning arable stubble except for health plan reasons. The actions are designed to go above and beyond GAEC requirements and will be designed to manage fire risks in upland areas. This in turn will reduce species loss, protect forestry and reduce the danger to nesting birds as well as protecting sensitive landscapes. There will be a strong element of collaboration with other agencies.
A build-up of vegetation is giving rise to a risk of fires and a key action in some areas will be the removal of scrub and invasive species. \ Donal Magner
Category 4 actions
Drinking point provision.Assessment of water pollution pathways.Linked to GAEC 4 – Establishment of buffer strips along watercourses and SMR 1 and SMR 2 – these actions will take the form of results-based scoring. A detailed farm assessment will take place to identify correction factors to be applied and solutions which can be tailored to each farm.
Category 5 actions
Commonage management.Appropriate woodland/forestry. Landslide management.The three actions in this grouping are linked to GAEC 5 – Tillage management, reducing the risk of soil degradation and erosion, including consideration of the slope gradient and SMR 3 and SMR 4.
Trees planted to prevent landslides as part of the SUAS EIP.
The co-operation project actions in this category relate to landscape and habitat recovery via large-scale action plans tailored to specific issues, habitats and topography of site.
They will be implemented via individual farm plans alongside landscape/catchment priorities. Again, expertise will be utilised from other State agencies with the aim of building comprehensive strategies for the improvement of sensitive landscapes.
Category 6 actions
Winterage practices.This is linked to the action outlined in category 1 but refers solely to management over the winter. It is linked to GAEC 6 – Minimum soil cover to avoid bare soil in periods that are most sensitive and SMR 2, 3 and 4. Winterage practices will be outlined in detailed farm plans which also contain in-built flexibility to allow for adjustments where required or to respond to specific situations. The best example of a similar scenario is in the Burren, where feeding or forage was replaced with offering animals a specially formulated concentrate.
Category 7 action
Improved farm access.The single action in this section is improving farm access. The document outlines that detailed farm planning will identify actions to improve soils and reduce unnecessary fertiliser. Furthermore, it will target better grazing practices and movement of animals within farms.
Category 8 actions
Pond creation. Woodland copses. Clearance and management of invasive species. Dry stone wall maintenance. Conservation of traditional farm buildings. Protection of archaeological monuments. Safer nesting sites. Bird monitoring. Nest protection.This category has the greatest number of nine actions grouped together. We are told that “non-productive areas will be targeted towards management for specific habitats and species and local conditions and qualitative components will be included”.
\ Clive Wasson
Many of these actions are related to eco schemes and the proposed objectives state that all actions in this area will go beyond eco-scheme requirements.
Farmer experience is viewed as critical across these actions and it is envisaged that farmers will have a big input in to the development of farm plans and “will use their detailed knowledge of farm history to enrich knowledge of advisers”.
The document outlines that actions relevant and sympathetic to different regions will be used to maximise benefits while an interesting aspect of these actions outlines that there will be a common approach to approval systems, planning permissions, removal of features, replacement protocols etc.
The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association has been vocal in outlining that farmers in many priority areas are greatly curtailed in the farming practices that they can undertake and insist that the Co-Operation Measures cannot impede their ability to farm.
Category 9 actions
Protection of carbon-rich soils. Floodplain management.The final two actions are linked to GAEC 9 – Ban on converting or ploughing permanent grassland designated as environmentally sensitive permanent grasslands in Natura 2000 sites. The objective for actions in this category will include assessments of peatland habitats and the delivery of tailored habitat recovery plans.
The actions are results based and the use of peatland results-based scorecards will allow for appropriate management of sensitive soils while the use of bespoke grassland scorecards is proposed to take account of needs specific to different regions.
There has been a huge reaction to last week’s exclusive first viewing of priority areas identified for the cooperation element of the Agri-Environment Climate Measure (AECM).
To recap on the main features, the AECM Co-Operation Measure has a target of 20,000 participants and offers a potential maximum payment of €10,000, with the average payment expected by the Department of Agriculture to be in the region of €7,000 per participant.
The AECM Co-Operation Measure entry route will only be available to farmers in the defined high-priority geographical areas outlined in the map.
Participating farmers will have the option of undertaking general AECM measures but in addition to this, the proposed CAP strategic plan document outlines that farmers will be offered tailored farm, landscape and catchment measures or actions. Local project teams will be established to assist with the implementation of the scheme at local level.
These actions have been designed to progress beyond the minimum requirements outlined under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) and are expected to complement measures introduced under conditionality and eco schemes.
The CAP document submitted to the European Commission for approval states that the measures will be linked to requirements under Ireland’s Priority Action Framework for Natura 2000 and the EU Water Framework Directive.
Starting point
The plan is to develop eight Local Project teams containing project managers, supporting administrative staff and relevant experts including hydrologists, ecologists, ornithologists, environmental scientists – field officers and farm advisers.
The tender for these project teams was announced last week.
The CAP document highlights that collaboration with State agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and other non-governmental organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland will be key to ensure appropriate targets are put in place and the correct resources used.
The second element to the AECM Co-Operation Measure is the tailoring of farm/landscape type actions which require the co-operation of more than one farmer, or actions on connected land parcels.
Examples of these include commonage actions, large-scale drainage or rewetting actions, landscape prevention or enhancement actions and those related to invasive species control, scrub control, upland fire control and the provision of access roads and water and nest protection.
Some of the actions outlined will be mandatory but there will also be scope to fund some results-based payments which are farm based and will be designed to reward farmers for specific results/targets set. Examples under this area include targets related to the management of water tables on carbon-rich soils.
The proposed actions are grouped together based on the relevant baseline element farmers must abide by either through GAEC or Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs). A brief explanation of these actions and the areas which they focus on are outlined as follows.
Category 1 actions
Revegetation of bare areas.There is one action outlined here with the commitment to ensure the revegetation of bare areas in areas deemed as having a high environmental value in sensitive areas. The baseline set for this measure is the maintenance of permanent pasture based on a ratio of permanent grassland to agricultural area and using 2018 as a reference year.
Category 2 actions
Peatland drain blocking.Water retention measures.Bridging.Earth banks and soil bunds.Provision of swales/settlement ponds.Floodplain management.There are six actions grouped together related to GAEC 2 – protection of peatland and wetlands and SMR 2 and SMR 4. The CAP proposals highlight that these actions go beyond the normal commitment by ensuring blanket bogs are “actively restored so that they can start functioning and accumulating peat and acting as a carbon sink”.
They are highlighted as important landscape features for holding water. Water is retained on farm, with nutrients and sediment captured before being released into river systems.
These goals will be achieved through implementing regenerative agricultural practices on peatlands. It says this will include the practical implementation of emissions reductions via restoration of bio-sequestration capacities of peat soils. It will be monitored and rewarded through the development of a results-based payment scorecard for carbon farming on a catchment basis.
Category 3 actions
Controlled burning.Grazed fuel breaks/fire breaks.Cutting rides through scrub.Installation of upland ponds.There are four actions grouped together under this heading which is linked to GAEC 3 – Ban on burning arable stubble except for health plan reasons. The actions are designed to go above and beyond GAEC requirements and will be designed to manage fire risks in upland areas. This in turn will reduce species loss, protect forestry and reduce the danger to nesting birds as well as protecting sensitive landscapes. There will be a strong element of collaboration with other agencies.
A build-up of vegetation is giving rise to a risk of fires and a key action in some areas will be the removal of scrub and invasive species. \ Donal Magner
Category 4 actions
Drinking point provision.Assessment of water pollution pathways.Linked to GAEC 4 – Establishment of buffer strips along watercourses and SMR 1 and SMR 2 – these actions will take the form of results-based scoring. A detailed farm assessment will take place to identify correction factors to be applied and solutions which can be tailored to each farm.
Category 5 actions
Commonage management.Appropriate woodland/forestry. Landslide management.The three actions in this grouping are linked to GAEC 5 – Tillage management, reducing the risk of soil degradation and erosion, including consideration of the slope gradient and SMR 3 and SMR 4.
Trees planted to prevent landslides as part of the SUAS EIP.
The co-operation project actions in this category relate to landscape and habitat recovery via large-scale action plans tailored to specific issues, habitats and topography of site.
They will be implemented via individual farm plans alongside landscape/catchment priorities. Again, expertise will be utilised from other State agencies with the aim of building comprehensive strategies for the improvement of sensitive landscapes.
Category 6 actions
Winterage practices.This is linked to the action outlined in category 1 but refers solely to management over the winter. It is linked to GAEC 6 – Minimum soil cover to avoid bare soil in periods that are most sensitive and SMR 2, 3 and 4. Winterage practices will be outlined in detailed farm plans which also contain in-built flexibility to allow for adjustments where required or to respond to specific situations. The best example of a similar scenario is in the Burren, where feeding or forage was replaced with offering animals a specially formulated concentrate.
Category 7 action
Improved farm access.The single action in this section is improving farm access. The document outlines that detailed farm planning will identify actions to improve soils and reduce unnecessary fertiliser. Furthermore, it will target better grazing practices and movement of animals within farms.
Category 8 actions
Pond creation. Woodland copses. Clearance and management of invasive species. Dry stone wall maintenance. Conservation of traditional farm buildings. Protection of archaeological monuments. Safer nesting sites. Bird monitoring. Nest protection.This category has the greatest number of nine actions grouped together. We are told that “non-productive areas will be targeted towards management for specific habitats and species and local conditions and qualitative components will be included”.
\ Clive Wasson
Many of these actions are related to eco schemes and the proposed objectives state that all actions in this area will go beyond eco-scheme requirements.
Farmer experience is viewed as critical across these actions and it is envisaged that farmers will have a big input in to the development of farm plans and “will use their detailed knowledge of farm history to enrich knowledge of advisers”.
The document outlines that actions relevant and sympathetic to different regions will be used to maximise benefits while an interesting aspect of these actions outlines that there will be a common approach to approval systems, planning permissions, removal of features, replacement protocols etc.
The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association has been vocal in outlining that farmers in many priority areas are greatly curtailed in the farming practices that they can undertake and insist that the Co-Operation Measures cannot impede their ability to farm.
Category 9 actions
Protection of carbon-rich soils. Floodplain management.The final two actions are linked to GAEC 9 – Ban on converting or ploughing permanent grassland designated as environmentally sensitive permanent grasslands in Natura 2000 sites. The objective for actions in this category will include assessments of peatland habitats and the delivery of tailored habitat recovery plans.
The actions are results based and the use of peatland results-based scorecards will allow for appropriate management of sensitive soils while the use of bespoke grassland scorecards is proposed to take account of needs specific to different regions.
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