A new Agri-Environment Training Scheme (AETS) has been launched for farmers. This was the announcement made by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue earlier today. The training scheme will be open to all farmers to improve their knowledge of agri-environment initiatives and farm safety.
Minister McConalogue says that the one-day course will provide farmers with information on a range of topics including environmental issues and lessons learnt from participation in the most recent agri-environment scheme but to name a few.
“I am delighted to be opening the AETS as it will make easily accessible information available to farmers and increase their awareness and understanding of current issues”, says McConalogue.
It is part of the development of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and “ensures that farmers are well placed to get the most from the range of environmental schemes starting next year”, the minister adds.
The scheme is part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and is being made available in the transitional period before the proposed commencement of Ireland’s new CAP Strategic Plan in 2023.
A budget of €7 million is available for the scheme.
The scheme will be open to all farmers who apply for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). A farmer may only attend one training course during the lifetime of the scheme.
The amount payable to a farmer who satisfactorily attends an AETS course is €156.
LSL News.