Notifications for Checks by Monitoring (CbM) under the 2022 Protein Aid Scheme and the Straw Incorporation Measure are now issuing. More updates are anticipated in the next few months. This was announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue on Thursday, 21 July 2022.
Checks by Monitoring is an ongoing automated use of satellite and other data sources to check agricultural activity on all land parcels declared by farmers under the Protein Aid Scheme and the Straw Incorporation Measure this year.
This process has replaced on-farm inspections, and will facilitate notification to applicants of any problems in relation to crop type or activity within land parcels declared by the farmer.
This new system has come under criticism, with the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) describing the extent of monitoring for the Protein Aid Scheme and other upcoming schemes as “grossly intrusive and disquieting”.
If any problems are identified, a notification will issue on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) online system – where a text message will alert the farmer to check for a notification on their BPS account. Geotagged photographs or other documents may then be requested, or possibly a farm visit may be necessary.
In the Minister’s view, “The introduction of Checks by Monitoring (CbM) is a positive move towards the simplification of the CAP.”