Satellites to monitor more ACRES actions
A total of seven ACRES actions will be monitored by AMS in 2025. Picture: Noel Bennett
Copernicus Sentinel satellite data will be used to ensure area-based schemes have met eligibility requirements for 2025.
The Department of Agriculture will continue to use the Area Monitoring System (AMS) via satellite data to regularly monitor, track, and assess agricultural activities and practices.
A total of seven ACRES actions will be monitored by AMS in 2025. Brassica Fodder Stubble, Catch Crops, Environmental Management of Arable Fallow, Extensively Grazed Pasture, Riparian Buffer Zone — Arable, Riparian Buffer Zone — Grassland, and Winter Bird Food are all the actions being monitored for 2025.
AMS interprets the satellite imagery, which enables the department to monitor agricultural activities on the 1.3 million declared land parcels in the country.
Parcels monitored by AMS will have colour-coded results: green, yellow, or red. Parcels flagged as green and yellow indicate the farmer’s application has been verified by AMS, and payments can be made.
A land parcel flagged as red indicates an error that could result in a message to the farmer via their BISS online account and a delay in payments.
If a land parcel is red, follow-up checks by an on-the-ground inspector are to be expected to provide further clarification. The department may also request the farmer to submit geotagged photographs using AgriSnap, as part of the checks process.
Online amendments can be made to the 2025 BISS application up to May 31, 2025, without incurring a penalty.
Further information relating to AMS and how an applicant should respond if issued with an AMS notification, is available under Section 16 of the BISS terms and conditions.
