Strong farmer interest in agri-environment scheme

Nearly 27,000 farmers have applied to join the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme. Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said he was delighted by the uptake.

“By any standards, the Green Low Carbon Agri- Environment Scheme is already a huge success and it is clearly going to play a key role in the protection of our rural environment,” he said.

Mr Coveney released details of the first tranche of applications for the scheme, co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. He said early indications are that most of the applicants will draw close to the maximum annual payment of €5,000.