Proposed changes to Eco Scheme a 'meaningless measure'
Hedgerows, which have been previously included in the Eco-Scheme, have been removed with the proposed changes.
Farming organisations have pushed back against the proposed Eco Scheme amendments, some calling it a “meaningless measure”, and others calling for a reversal.
Commenting on the proposed changes to the scheme, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) questioned how these changes work with the "simplification agenda".
ICMSA deputy president Eamon Carroll has pushed back against the proposed changes to the ECO Scheme 2026 ‘Space for Nature’ option.
“To be honest, the ‘simplification agenda’ was revealed as a joke a good while ago... I’d ask whether similar rules will apply to Mercusor countries, but what’s the point when we all know the answer?”, said Mr Carroll.
Mr Carroll said the crux of this latest change was what he called the “inexplicable decision” features that were eligible for 2023-2025 are now excluded.
“Whoever decided this should be asked to explain their position publicly and detail why, for instance, hedgerows are excluded? We can describe the decision as absolutely ridiculous and illogical — but that’s to understate the matter. It’s beyond that; it shows a level of indifference that borders on contempt,” he said.
Mr Carroll has called on agriculture minister Martin Heydon to intervene on this matter or, if he agrees with his officials, explain to the organisations and farmers when plants, birds and hedgerows stopped being "nature’" and ineligible for inclusion.
“It’s only a small pronouncement and will be considered as a minor matter. But everything that is wrong with the attitude of officialdom to farmers and the way they regard our time and effort and expense as unimportant and of no account is contained in this latest announcement,” said Mr Carroll.
Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) rural development chair John Curran has called on the department to quickly reverse the proposed changes to the Eco Scheme calculations.
“Farmers have invested and bought in hugely to the voluntary eco schemes and into the Space for Nature option… Now, some farmers are getting letters to say that features which were eligible previously, such as hedgerows, trees and stonewalls adjacent to farmyards, are no longer eligible for Space for Nature calculations,” he said.
Mr Curran added the amendments did not make sense and “will dilute the efforts of farmers” due to the scheme's technical adjustments, which may mean “farmers will either have to choose additional eco schemes to preserve payments, or risk penalties.”
“This re-calculation needs to be scrapped, and all ‘Space for Nature’ features included and accounted for in eco-scheme payments,” he said.
