“ Progress ” on acre payments delayed to farmers

The Ministry of Agriculture said that progress was made to erase a back-up of payments due to farmers from the Climate Initiative of the Agrico-Climate Rural Environment Plan (ACRES) which encourages them to improve biodiversity on their land.

The regime managed by the government has a fund of 1.5 billion euros to help approach the decline in biodiversity of farms, focusing on things such as planting new hedges, native trees and protection of rivers.

More than 50,000 farmers have registered on the program since its start in 2023.

But more than 9,000 farmers expect 2024 payments, including 2,300 while also awaiting payments for 2023.

The failures of the results, the lack of staff at the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the enormous demand for the program are blamed for delayed payments.

The association of Irish farmers (IFA) said that delays caused enormous difficulties to farmers who count on funding to stay in business.

IFA President Francie Gorman said he thought that agriculture minister Martin Heydon could “sort this problem in the morning – like his predecessor Charlie McConalogue – by pressing the button and by making an initial payment to farmers who owe these payments.

“Farmers have invested very strongly in this program since 2023 and we now have thousands of farmers who do not have their balancing payments for 2023 – or their advanced payments for 2024 – and this causes enormous problems of cash flow in farms.

“People would have invested in measurements, whether hedges or something else, they would have hired consultants to develop their plans, they must be paid.

“Households must also be managed and these payments are due to farmers now. Many of these farmers would not have a stock to sell at this time of the year, so they depend on this for cash flow – not only to manage their farm but their household.”

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Mr. Gorman added that Acres is the “scheme of Irish flagship agro-environment in the five years (2023-2027), there are 1.5 billion euros. To think that this amount is in this program and it became bad news for all the people involved in beggar beliefs”.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that “real progress has been made” since Minister Heydon took office in January, with just over 21 million euros, more than a third of current, authorized and paid payments.

In a statement, the ministry added that Minister Heydon “recognizes frustration and difficulty for farmers who remain to be paid”.

“Regular payment executions continue to be carried out on contracts awaiting final payment with regard to 2023 and / or payment in advance for 2024, with the vast majority of cases to be resolved before balanced the problem of payments in May, and the most complex cases finalized in June at the latest.”

The Murphy myles farmer has a handful of cattle in the Dublin mountains. They eat vegetation, help biodiversity and reduce the risk of forest fires.

As part of a previous environmental program, he obtained funding for virtual fences. To make her cattle pay, it is expensive and difficult to raise cattle on the hills – and more delicate still keeping them there.

“It is not closed here, they are open roads,” he explains.

“The roads are open both in Tallaght and Rathfarnham, so controlling animals on the mountains is a real difficulty. They have necklaces on the neck and we control it by an application on the phone. We create virtual pastures on the mountains and animals will remain in this pasture.”

This technology gives cows a warning and, finally, a slight shock if they try to leave the virtual zone.

Mr. Murphy wants to graze more cattle and asked for funding to do so under hectares.

Nearby, in an area where his new sheep finds their feet, he started an orchard with acre support.

The orchard, and projects like this, are assessed by Fergal Monaghan, director of the Acres program for the region.

“Our work is to support farmers, agricultural advisers and the department with the deployment of the ACRES program,” he said.

“The hectare farmers have requested more than 80,000 shares on farms. Orchards like this are one of them. In our region, we have more than 500 orchards that have been approved in the past two years.

“There are some great advantages of the orchard. One is that it preserves the varieties of traditional apples that have developed throughout Ireland and are easily lost by commercial varieties sold through garden centers.

“In addition, an orchard is a useful habitat for a wide range of pollinators and provides nesting and food sites for a large number of small birds.”

There is a complete team of the ACRES project across the country to help farmers ensure the financing of projects.

The deputy project manager for the Acres Leinster Brian Dunne said that when assessing land, they “examine ecological integrity, hydrological integrity and all threats or pressure”.

“So, it could be something like invasive species such as Sitka Spruce – they have an impact of drying on a peat, so we want to see the farmers cut these conifers.

“If they may have rhododendron, this is another invasive species that we plan to be removed,” he said.

Acre teams also watch places that may be damaged by spill and can help withdraw garbage.