A.E.O.S scheme

sh1tstirrer · 10-12-2010 08:59PM #1

Anyone here in the AEOS scheme? Does it restrict normal farming pratices?

thetiredfarmer · 15-12-2010 09:45PM

I have signed up to it and to the best of my knowledge it is not in the least bit restrictive.I have traditional hay meadow (very small area)low (N).Planting a long overdue hedge which will improve the place no end and then put in a lot of water troughs to keep cattle away from watering holes but that will make paddock grazing alot easier and finally planting some trees around my farmyard in clusters.
Hope this helps.

johngalway · 15-12-2010 10:03PM

It depends on what you mean by restrict?

I am still being held at artificially low sheep numbers despite no over grazing.

Other than that I had to give dates regarding when the sheep are on the commonage and when they are not. Grassland management, yer right :rolleyes:

sh1tstirrer · 18-12-2010 01:26PM

Thanks for the replies. I don't think this scheme will be going ahead next year.

johngalway · 18-12-2010 06:49PM

Apparently there is money put aside for it again next year. What next year may bring though is an other story.

sh1tstirrer · 18-12-2010 09:01PM

It was limited to 10000 this year I think 9000 applied. If it does go ahead next year it will be like a lottery with so many farmers coming out of REPS3 in 2011, I think the number is around 23000.

agcons · 19-12-2010 08:41PM

Its a max of E5000 per farm and the same 10000 limit on numbers. No other details available yet but as the number of applicants is very likely to exceed 10000 there will be eligibilty criteria most likely based on the relative environmental benefits of one farm being in the scheme vs another farm being in it. At this stage it will probably be Feb before we know. 15th May closing date regardless of when it is announced.

nashmach · 19-12-2010 11:16PM

Looking at this at the moment as we are now out of REPS 3.

I am finding it difficult to get enough features to make it work in our case.

What are the definitions of species rich and traditional grassland?

Also the riparian margins of 2.5m are from where to where (ie middle of the stream or top of the bank to the fence?)

Similarly with the arable margins? 10ft of a margin is a heck of a lot in a 4 acre field!!

Also if we fence off our watercourse are movable troughs allowed rather than pumped water (land is a long way from a well).

The only options I can get to work at present are the Green Cover (which I am a fan of for the rotational benefit) and wide arable margins but with only 20 acres of tillage ground, it would be hard to get €1000 out of it gross!

Thanks for any advice.

A.E.O.S scheme

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