New Acres scheme

Western Pomise

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121304384#Comment_121304384

Thanks very much for the feedback,I looked up T+C’s for CP zone measures and looking at the map for this region the meeting I would be attending is in an area with a slightly different designation/colouring on the map iykwim.

So just wondering were the presenters just talking in general about the possible extra measures you could undertake on your ‘CP’ zone area land or were they speaking in specific terms to your respective Commonage/CP area.

Don’t want a 90 min journey there and back if info outlined isn’t relevant to my local CP zone/Commonage area iykwim🙂…….hard enough to get away to it anyway!

PS-Appreciate feedback from anyone who has attended one of these CP information meetings over last while as one I would attend is on tonight.

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121309132#Comment_121309132

Maybe find out who is running the CP in your area and give them a call. I’ve not be to a meeting yet but U gather we find out the actions and consult our planner then

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121309132#Comment_121309132

General overview of measures and when + how to apply. Indicated that screening will be automated ( think what comes back from your farm walk will be taken into account and overall aims for that CP to decide what measures are favoured). Don't have commonage but many in my CP have and were in hen harrier scheme before this. Meeting was "highjacked" to an extent by 2 planners/advisors complaining (specs changing, too much to do in time given etc.) but CP people were only after getting information themselves shortly before. Think they were trying to score points in front of clients more than anything

You'll be going to your advisor anyway to apply so if you have the list of measures it wouldn't be huge loss if you missed it ( although always better to get things firsthand and maybe they have more info now) Info leaflet given out had CP people for this area phone details and they said you can ring them to see how you scored or any other questions.

Funny thing is they ran a couple of farm walks on farms that were in hen harrier areas before now and maybe 10 -12 turned up but local hall was packed for info about money!!!

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121283807#Comment_121283807

Did you ring since to find out what the bill was for ?

jd06

Didn't get a chance to be honest, had a few inspection s lately so busy. I might let it slide see what happens

Durrus Boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121310107#Comment_121310107

Speaking of bills....

Father applied on a 38ha block which lies in a CP area. Private planner put in the initial basic application charging €450. He then scored it in July and charged €625 for that! Didn't even bother to give an indication of what the land scored! Will be another bill if we apply for an NPI's!!!

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121310269#Comment_121310269

That's a crazy price for scoring 38 ha .There is more work applying for NPIs so I would assume there will be another bill

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121310269#Comment_121310269

Im in a CP zone also. I also got a similar bill for 18ha. No indication either of what the fields scored bar he rang when he was at the outfarm to make sure he was in the right place and just mentioned in passing that it should score a 7 but I never got a final figure and never got a figure as to what the scoring was worth to me..... I understand there busy but they had time to send out the bill. It would not take much more to add the info.

Water John

7 will be quite good from what my advisor was talking.

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121311675#Comment_121311675

I'd be very happy if I get a score of 7 and if the home place scores a 7 it will be caviar for Christmas dinner this year.

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121311844#Comment_121311844

From what I heard at meetings it's very hard to score 7. They basically said that if your score was high your land was unproductive. The required flowers won't grow if much fert. Is applied. So a high score has its disadvantagex

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121316494#Comment_121316494

No fert does not equal unproductive. Intensive farms were always going to suffer with scoring in fairness.

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121316494#Comment_121316494

I'd have exactly as you describe, rough grazing ground that gets little to no artificial fertilizer. The out farm is 6ha, where he said I'd scored a 7, I'd say 4ha you would be spreading fert by hand out of a bucket as it's to steep for a tractor, so I don't bother even trying to spread any. I set stock it for 5 months of the winter and let it grow away the rest of the year. As the old people would say " you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear" and I've no intention of trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm not the most productive or intensive farmer out there but I'm happy with what I have. I'm not an armchair farmer I keep suckler cows, that produce a good quality weanling typical of the west of Ireland but I'm restricted with the land type I have.

TheClubMan

Has a closing date been announced for Tranche 2 of ACRES?

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121316682#Comment_121316682

Maybe not unproductive but certainly less productive

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121317528#Comment_121317528

Is it open at present

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121317612#Comment_121317612

Less productive could be more profitable.

jd06

I got a phone call today about the outstanding bill 260e they said it was because I was I a Cp zone but basically he couldn't tell me what it was for ,even when I told him to go find out he still wasn't able to tell me.

He said he'd take the 156e that I got for the days training and I could owe them 104e.

Look ill probably will have to pay it but I'd like to know what it's for and who's getting fat off it

Also I forgot to ask is it an annual payment

I'm paying roughly 350 membership

550 for acres

260 for mystery payment

That's over a vrand I'm paying to teagasc and I think I'm only getting over 2 grand from acres.

Maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way. Rant over

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121317673#Comment_121317673

So because farmers in the CP zones are getting a few quid more the parasites in Teagasc decided to come up with some makey uupy bullcrap charge to feather their nests with. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

endainoz

It would probably be fair to charge relative to what the client is getting from the scheme itself but of course that would be too simple.

TheClubMan

The Access Agreement facility for Tranche 2, which is the first step in the process, is now open.

This is the online facility whereby ACRES advisors may submit an Expression of Interest for Tranche 2 of ACRES. It must be completed by advisors in respect of each of their clients who wish to apply for ACRES, in advance of preparation of the required Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP).

The Department’s Generic Land Management System (GLAM) will then open in the next couple of weeks for the preparation of Farm Sustainability Plans.

Finally, the opening of the ACRES System for the formal submission of the applications will follow in early November. This phased roll-out of the application process gives a longer period of time for ACRES advisors to do their initial review, visit farms and consult with clients before finally submitting an ACRES application.

(Taken from the Farming Independent - nothing about a closing date though)

How long was Tranche 1 open for?

kollegeknight

At a training day for it today. Had to drive 1h46mins to find one.

started at 10:15.

break at 11:05 and not back yet. Pure waste of a day so far.

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121319390#Comment_121319390

At least you'll get paid for it.

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121317673#Comment_121317673

the advisor will have to apply for NPIs for you. You can apply for different NLIs. each year.I think it's a yearly payment

jd06

Thanks for that. But it could turn out I don't pick any npi this year or any year

Hard Knocks

Is 2027 the last year for this scheme?

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121317636#Comment_121317636

It certainly could depending on the type of farming you are doing.

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121320699#Comment_121320699

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121320699#Comment_121320699

Don't know what the situation is with that..

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121320758#Comment_121320758

No. According to the T&C's (2.11) it's a minimum of 5 years contract - " 2.11 Contracts under ACRES shall be for a minimum period of five years"

ACRES General approach (2.9-1) doesn't give any specific end date which makes sense if your planting tress, hedgerows etc.

"2.9-1. ACRES General approach is structured as a ‘package’ and offers a maximum payment of €7,311 per participant per full calendar year. The level of payment achieved will be determined by the payment rates for the respective actions selected and undertaken"

However ACRES Co-operation (2.9-2) specifies a contract of 5 years.

"2.9-2. ACRES Co-operation approach is structured as a ‘package’ and offers a maximum

payment of €52,500 over the 5-year contract period, except in exceptional

circumstances. This is equivalent to €10,500 per participant per annum and includes

monies that can be drawn down for results-based scorecard payments, General Actions, Non-Productive Investments, Co-operative/Landscape Actions and Landscape Bonus payments. The overall scheme payment limit of €52,500 shall not be exceeded, except in exceptional circumstances and with prior approval from the Department."

farmqi28

Yeah with the NPIs it might make more sense to get 7000 in year 2 instead of 3500 in year 1, as the advisor is going to be looking for money every time you get him to do an application.