Plans regarding the latest €1m multi-species sward scheme are currently underway. It aims to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming and forms part of Budget 2022. Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue made the announcement regarding developments of this scheme last week.
The pilot measure is expected to have a positive impact on climate emissions, biodiversity and water quality. It additionally seeks to reduce dependency on expensive nitrogenous fertiliser.
According to the Minister this measure is anticipated to contribute to the goals set around the EU Green Deal, including Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. He says that it is an innovative pilot measure which has a proposed target to establish approximately 8,000ha of multi-species grassland. Under Ireland’s next CAP, one of the echo schemes proposed for farmers is the sowing of multi-species sward.
The scheme is aimed at reducing chemical nitrogen use and farmers taking part in this option will be required to sow multi-species swards on at least 6% of the eligible hectares within the year. For example, a farmer with a 32ha farm must sow at least 1.92ha in a multi-sward species. According to the CAP document, if the farmer selects this action in a subsequent year, they must sow a further 6% of their eligible hectares. Payments will be based on income foregone and costs incurred.
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