As it stands, farmer’s land parcels cannot have more than 10% of so-called ‘ineligible features’ like scrub, trees, copses, woodland, habitat and rock, but a decision was made by the Department of Agriculture to increase the area from its original proposal of 30%. It seems that farmers will be able to receive payments on land parcels with up to 50% of previously ineligible features such as scrub or woodland from next year. This was shared to stakeholders at a CAP consultative committee meeting last week.
The updates mean that from 2023, once the area of beneficial features in a parcel is less than 50%, there is no reduction in the eligible area of the parcel.
It is understood if between 50.1% and 70% of a permanent grassland parcel contains these features, the actual area occupied by these ‘beneficial features’ will be mapped and deducted from the eligible area.
The Department is also understood to have said that if over 70.1% of a permanent grassland parcel, or over 50.1% of an arable parcel, contains these beneficial features – the entire parcel will be ineligible (as is currently the case) as agriculture and agricultural activity is no longer predominant.
Beneficial features are now viewed as scrub, trees, copses and woodland, and rock.