Tranche two of ACRES opens for applications
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that the Government has committed €1.5bn to ACRES over the duration of the scheme to facilitate the participation of 50,000 farmers.
Applications can now be submitted for tranche two of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).
Some advisors have already submitted expressions of interest and started preparing draft farm sustainability plans, and these can now be finalised and submitted with the final application.
This application period remains open until 5:30pm on Wednesday, December 13, for both ACRES general and ACRES co-operation.
There are 4,000 places in this tranche.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that the Government has committed €1.5bn to ACRES over the duration of the scheme to facilitate the participation of 50,000 farmers.
"The funding I secured in last month’s budget facilitates the opening of tranche two of ACRES to bring the numbers in the scheme up to that level, which is also in line with Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027."
The minister has also reminded participants and their advisors that the system for the submission of Non-Productive Investment (NPI’s) Annual Work Plans for ACRES co-operation participants, which has been open since November 16, will close for submission of applications at 5:30 pm on December 6.
"Advisors have been able, since the end of October, to draft up the NPI Annual Work plans for their clients and I am now encouraging advisors to formally submit these plans in advance of the deadline.
"NPIs are an invaluable way within the ACRES co-operation approach for farmers to take specific measures to manage and enhance their holdings for the benefit of the overall landscape and environment.
"While the implementation of the NPIs will in time and collectively benefit the environment, they also assist farmers in increasing the scores of their lands and, in turn, the level of their annual results-based payment."
