Reversal of Amended Eco-scheme Calculations Needed
IFA Rural Development Chair John Curran has called on the Department to quickly reverse the proposed changes to Eco-scheme calculations.
“Farmers have invested and bought in hugely to the voluntary Eco-schemes and into the Space for Nature option, in particular where parts of the farm are preserved and allocated specifically for biodiversity & habitat benefits.”
“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.
“It just doesn’t make sense. If implemented, they will dilute the efforts of farmers because of technical adjustments and may mean farmers will either have to chose additional Eco-schemes to preserve payments, or risk penalties.”
“The Farmers’ Charter of Rights provides that the Department will fully consult with the farming organisations on all scheme details and discuss any changes to terms and conditions in a timely manner. There has been no consultation or engagement by the Department on this, even at our most recent Charter meeting in mid-December,” he said.
“This re-calculation needs to be scrapped, and all ‘Space for Nature’ features included and accounted for in Eco-scheme payments,” John Curran concluded.
