ACRES Tranche 2: All Applicants to be accepted

By Padraig Glynn, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare

It was recently announced that all 9,000 farmers who applied for Agri-Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (ACRES) Tranche 2, will be accepted into the scheme. This news has pleased many farmers who were patiently awaiting approval into this phase, as original plans only accommodated for 4,000 new applicants. This was due to 46,000 farmers already being part of the scheme, following acceptance into Tranche 1 last year. For Tranche 2 applicants, their contract will begin from January 1^st 2024. Each farmer will receive an ACRES Approval Summary outlining all their approved actions for the scheme.

Some of the most popular actions chosen for ACRES included: Extensively Grazed Pasture, Low Input Grassland, Geese & Swans, Riparian Buffer Zones and Plant a New Hedgerow. What are these measures and what do they involve? Briefly outlined, are some of main requirements for these actions below.

• Extensively Grazed Pasture: This measure allows farmers to be paid €250/ha for up to a maximum of 8 hectares. Only grassland with at least four grass species (excluding ryegrasses) and less than 30% perennial ryegrass sward are eligible. Therefore, this measure suits less intensive farmers with lower stocking rates. There is a 40 kg/ha limit for applied nitrogen on these parcels, which includes chemical and organic nitrogen. Mowing or topping is not permitted between March 15^th and July 1^st.
• Low Input Grassland: The payment rate for this measure varies depending on how well the fields score when the farm is walked in year 1, 3 and 5 of the contract. To obtain a good score, the grassland must have a lot of positive indicator species. These species tend to grow on specific land types and those that don’t receive much fertiliser.
  

  Low Input Grassland2 (ACRES General)
  Field Score	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	<4
  Payment rate per hectare	€400	€375	€350	€325	€300	€275	€250	0

  Grazing management and having an appropriate stocking rate throughout the year is key to achieving a good score on the scorecard and ultimately leads to a higher payment per hectare. Maintaining good boundaries on parcels, lowering the amount of slurry and chemical fertilisers parcels receive are also ways in which farmers can improve their scores.

• Geese & Swans: For this action the objective is to promote the production of an undisturbed foraging area, to support overwintering geese and swans. The two main rules within this measure include; an average sward length of 5cm to 12cm (within these specific fields) by October 1^st. Furthermore, parcels must be closed off from livestock and machinery between October 1^st and March 31^st, in each of the five years of the contract. This is except for hedge cutting, which can take place up until October 31^st.
• Riparian Buffer Zones: Farmers must fence off the pre-planned area, which is located next to a small stream, surface drain, river, lake or pond. The fence must be stock proof and in place by May 15^th Livestock are not permitted to graze these areas at any stage during the 5-year contract. Chemical or organic fertilisers cannot be applied to these areas either.

• Planting a New Hedgerow: The new hedgerow must consist of at least 5 plants per metre in a double staggered row. All plants must have accompanying plant passports. An appropriate permanent fence must be used to protect the new hedge from livestock. The date for completion of this action is the March 31^st The date for Tranche 1 applicants to have new hedgerows planted has recently been extended to March 31^st 2025. This was due to current market restrains and the limited supply of suitable hedgerow plants. Tranche 2 applicants with this action should plan in advance to source plants and get it planted in the next dormant season.

Soil samples are required for all ACRES applicants. All soil samples taken since January 1^st 2022 are deemed valid for Tranche 2 applicants, and results must be uploaded on Agfood by May 15^th 2025. This deadline has been extended for Tranche 1 applicants to December 31^st 2024 due to adverse weather in recent months proving difficult for soil samples to be taken in time for the original deadline of May 15^th 2024.

A further requirement of the ACRES scheme is to attend a compulsory course in the first year of the contract. This six hour course will explain many of the chosen ACRES measures in greater detail, and are run by approved ACRES trainers.

Key learnings from Tranche 1 Applicants:

• Plan ahead for completing all chosen ACRES actions before completion deadlines. E.g. fencing, closing off fields, soil sampling, planting trees/hedgerows.
• Management of LIG parcels is key to scoring well. E.g. grazing management, maintaining good boundaries and limiting nutrients applied.
• Follow all guidelines set out in the ACRES specification in relation to completing ACRES approved actions.