Environment scheme could benefit 10,000 participants, claims Smith

THE new agri-environment scheme will benefit up to 10,000 participants and will provide a maximum payment of €5,000, Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith has revealed.

He said the scheme is focused on the priority areas of biodiversity, climate change and water management. It offers a menu of measures to address these priorities.

Farmers may choose measures that complement the environmental profile of their farms.

Details of the scheme’s operation will be finalised over the next few weeks.

Mr Smith’s statement followed approval of Ireland’s revised Rural Development Programme at a meeting in Brussels of the EU Rural Development Management Committee.

The revised programme provides for the spending of extra funds for rural development arising under the Health Check and the European Economic Recovery Package.

It includes the agri-environment scheme as well as a number of on-farm investment schemes including measures for dairy and sheep farmers, pig and poultry welfare measures and a water conservation scheme.

In addition, provision has also been made for establishment grants for bio-energy crops.

The programme must now be formally approved by the European Commission. This is expected by the end of February.

IFA president John Bryan urged Mr Smith to implement a new REPS scheme, which delivers payment levels equivalent to those, which apply under the REPS 4. Detailed discussions must now take place to ensure the new scheme is meaningful.

The 10,000 farmers leaving REPS 3 this year must have a REPS scheme that recognises farmers’ key role in environmental land management.

Mr Bryan also called for new investment measures for dairy hygiene, sheep fencing, poultry farming, water harvesting and pig welfare to be introduced without further delay.

“These grant schemes are essential to ensure Irish farmers get support to meet rigorous environmental and welfare standards and also to make investments on their farms to make them more competitive,” he said.

IFA Rural Development chairman Tom Turley said the Environmental REPS Option Scheme will not work unless payment is made on a whole farm approach. Payment rates must also be at a level that encourages farmers to participate. “The allocation for the scheme this year must be €50 million which would have the potential to deliver an average payment of at least €5,000 per farmer.”