There is much concern arising regarding the Agri-Environment Climate Measure (AECM). This as, some lobby groups have called for strict conditions to be included in farmers’ applications to the scheme.
According to the latest developments it’s understood that the AECM will be divided into two streams when it begins in 2023. The AECM General will account for 30,000 of the predicted uptake of 50,000. The maximum payment per farmer in this stream will be €7,000, with an expected average payment of €5,000.
But president of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association, Vincent Roddy says that a farmer who applies for the cooperation stream and is unsuccessful will be offered a place in the general aspect of the scheme. He additionally warned at a meeting held on the matter earlier this week, that if a farmer in one of the areas covered by the cooperation project (CP) zones does not opt to apply under the stream, they will not be offered a place in the general stream.
At the meeting it was also heard that there is an expectation that the number of applications may be significantly more than is expected, leading to the scheme being oversubscribed. For that reason, the INHFA is calling for the scheme to be sufficiently funded to accommodate a total of 70,000 farmers.
LSL News.