IFA leader warns thousands ‘face exclusion’ under AEOS scheme

THOUSANDS of small farmers are to be excluded under the AEOS scheme, the Irish Farmers Association has said.

IFA president John Bryan has met with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to outline what he called “serious shortcomings” in the new scheme.

He criticised the decision to reduce the number of farmers eligible and the €4,000 maximum payment for AEOS in 2011.

He said the minister must re-examine the scheme and look at ways to increase the number of farmers who can qualify at last year’s rate of payment.

Mr Coveney said: “This AEOS scheme will provide the majority of farmers coming out of REPS with an opportunity to enter a new agri-environment scheme.

“There will be an expenditure limit of €25 million per annum on this scheme and a maximum payment to farmers of €4,000 annually. These limits are required by the expenditure ceilings set out in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014.

“These schemes combined currently have 60,000 participating farmers. I believe the scheme will be attractive to farmers while also delivering real, worthwhile environmental benefits.”

The Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) is to replace the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), now in its third and final round. While REPS related to the whole farm, AEOS narrows the focus to species-rich grassland, trees, hedges, orchards, wild bird cover and other listed ‘green’ on-farm initiatives.

The 2011 scheme is broadly similar to last year’s scheme. The terms and payment rates for new participants will apply until the end of 2013. At that stage, participants can either terminate their five-year contract without penalty or opt to join any alternative new EU scheme.

Mr Coveney said rolling out the new AEOS scheme has been problematic because the previous government had announced a scheme for 2011 without putting budgetary arrangements in place. Mr Bryan said the reversal of a budget decision is simply unacceptable.

“Fewer farmers will qualify for the scheme, and those who do qualify will get a lower payment than what was promised,” said Mr Bryan. “The main group affected will be low-income farmers, who depend greatly on direct supports such as AEOS. Up to 10,000 farmers will have completed their REPS3 Plan before the mid-May application date.

“Agri-environment payments such as AEOS and REPS are a vital part of the farming system, supporting farm incomes and adding greatly to the environment and the wider rural economy. Farmers are extremely annoyed that the AEOS has been watered down by Minister Coveney.”

IFA rural development chairman Tom Turley told Mr Coveney that a significant number of farmers who are likely to apply will now be rejected.

Meanwhile, ICMSA deputy president John Comer said the AEOS scheme was “wholly inadequate and disappointing in the extreme”.

He said there was much more waste and excess within the department’s own system.