Minister opens third ACRES application window for Landscape Actions

Farmers now have an opportunity to apply for Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme's Landscape Actions following the opening of the third application window for the scheme. 

The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has officially opened its third application window of the year for Landscape Actions.

Announcing the window application, minister for agriculture Martin Heydon said: “Landscape Actions are and continue to be important complementary environmental actions available under the ACRES Co-operation approach, which is available to farmers in defined high-priority geographical areas.” 

Landscape actions are designed to address invasive species management and encroaching scrub management in species-rich grassland, threatened species, and to protect water quality, among other issues.

The actions are designed to target environmental issues, which have been highlighted in the scorecards for results-based payment.

“They help participants to improve the habitat quality of their land, which may in turn increase the score of that land, resulting in a higher payment for the participant,” the minister continued.

There are currently two approaches to ACRES: ACRES General and ACRES Co-operation. ACRES General is available nationally, outside of the high-priority areas, and offers a range of prescription and results-based measures. ACRES Co-operation is available to farmers in defined high-priority geographical areas. 

The map in Annex 1 of the ACRES Terms and Conditions for both tranches shows the eight ACRES Co-operation zones, with an ACRES Co-operation Project (CP) Team in place in each zone to assist the participants.

The final specifications are available on the department website, and ACRES Co-operation Project participants can apply for Landscape Actions through their Co-operation Project Team.