The draft conditions of the government’s proposed new Environmental Scheme- ACRES were published on Friday last, and IFA Rural Development Chairman, Mayo based Michael Biggins has described the new scheme as “the poor relation” in comparison to the REPs scheme it replaces.
He is calling on the Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue to improve the budget allocation for the new scheme, but more importantly he says there needs to be more flexibility within the scheme.
Mr Biggins has described ACRES as “restrictive and complicated scheme that will inflict more compliance costs on farmers, resulting in less income”.
He says the Minister needs to ensure all valid scheme applications are accepted while also ensuring that no farmer is left without an environment scheme payment for 2023.
He has been outlining his concerns with the proposed new scheme to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley...
