19/10/2022 – The new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was formally opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue today. Farmer applications to the scheme must be submitted by an accredited ACRES advisor by 21st November 2022, with priority access for organic farmers.
There are two approaches under ACRES:
- ACRES General, available nationally offering a range of actions for individual farmers, both targeted and general actions appropriate to their farmland and;
- ACRES Co-operation, available to farmers whose farmland is located in 8 define geographical zones across the country. Farmers in these zones are supported by a Co-operation project team.
All organic farmers have priority access to Tier 1 of ACRES General where an applicant is registered as an operator with one of the Organic Control Bodies, such as the Irish Organic Association, by the closing date for applications (e.g., by 21/11/22 for Tranche 1)
Organic farmers may have to forgo organic farming scheme payments where certain ACRES actions are implemented on the same farmland parcel or area due to supposed double funding concerns. As a result, careful planning with your ACRES advisor is strongly recommended.
For further information can be found in the ACRES Terms and Conditions and by visiting DAFM’s ACRES webpage.
