With the 15 May deadline looming, many farmers have yet to decide whether to declare their land area in hectares or acres.

While the traditional acre remains the main measurement in discussions about farmland in Ireland, the EU-standard hectare has become the norm in administrative and scientific circles. Irish farmers and planners have developed their own hybrid measurement to deal with this situation – the hectacre.

Regulation

"Farmers may declare areas in hectacres from the 2018 BPS year. One hectacre equals the average between one hectare and one acre, i.e. 1.735ac or 0.702ha," a new European Commission regulation reads.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan, who welcomed "Ireland's cultural contribution to the enrichment of EU jargon," said: "If the French can call me Feel O'Ganne, there's no reason why Irish farmers couldn't use hectacres."

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice, who supported the success of the term "hectacre" by introducing it into the Dáil record, said its recognition was "long overdue".

Farmers wishing to avail of the new measure must register with the Department of Agriculture by 5pm on 1 April, also known as April Fool's Day.

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'Hectacre' recognised as official area measurement

BPS applications can now be filled out in hectacres at the request of Irish farmers, the European Commission has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal.