Consultation
Public Consultation on Proposed Agri-Environment Results Based Pilot Project
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
Last updated on
Consultation is being reviewed
The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. To advance this objective funding has been made available for an agri-environment pilot project. It is proposed to do this as a results-based project in order to align it with the principles of the next CAP.
Results-based agri-environment payment schemes reward farmers for committed environmental effort by linking payments to the quality of environmental outcomes delivered. This contrasts with the standard ‘prescription-based’ model used in GLAS, where payments are made for carrying out defined actions in line with scheme specifications. Examples of prescription-based agri-environment actions include the planting of Wild Bird Cover, using Low Emission Slurry Spreading technologies and positioning bee and bat boxes as outlined in the GLAS specifications. Prescription based actions can include mandatory requirements to be implemented to qualify for payment such as grazing, mowing dates and fertilizer and herbicide restrictions. Under this approach the same payment is made irrespective of the subsequent ecological quality achieved.
Under the results-based approach farm features are scored to identify how management practices have impacted on the environmental status of the holding. Scoring is calculated with reference to defined indicators, which are chosen to reflect overall biodiversity and ecological integrity. Payments are linked to environmental quality. In recognition of the environmental and biodiversity quality achieved, farms with the highest scoring receive the greatest payment.
Results-based schemes can involve payments awarded solely on results achieved or may be a blended model with payments for ‘non-productive investments’ which support the delivery of biodiversity and environmental benefits. By linking payments to defined indicators the results-based model creates a financial incentive linked with outcomes for participating farmers. The model also makes it worthwhile for participants to gain an understanding of the conditions required for the delivery of optimum biodiversity and environmental benefits.
The results based model has been used successfully by the Burren Project and various EIP (European Innovation Partnership) projects including the Hen Harrier Project, the BRIDE Project and the Protecting Farmland Pollinators Project. To date its application has been confined to specific environmental challenges and geographic areas. The model has not been tested on a national basis to date.
This pilot will trial a results-based scoring and payment system with suitable measures on participating farms across the country with a view to identifying upscaling potential and feasibility for use of the model in the next agri-environment scheme following on from GLAS. The pilot will aim to cover a broad geographic spread and include a wide range of farming enterprise types.
1. To test the potential suitability of a results-based payment system at farm level and the feasibility of upscaling this model as part of the next national agri-environment scheme to follow on from GLAS
2. To identify training needs for farmers, advisors and other stakeholders
3. To identify the barriers to farmer buy-in to the results-based model
4. To raise awareness and achieve attitudinal change among farmers of the value of biodiversity and other ecosystem services on their farms
5. To test the suitability of Department procedures and systems with regards to application procedures, payment procedures/systems, budgeting/financial procedures and audit/control functions.
6. To identify control and inspection implications
7. To test the monitoring and evaluation aspects for results-based payment actions.
1. Biodiversity
2. Water quality
3. Soil health
4. Climate mitigation/adaptation
Funding has been secured for 2021. Year one will include the establishment of the project systems, training for both farmers and advisors, on farm assessment, the setting of environmental and biodiversity baselines at farm level and the identification of farm management and/or investment actions to improve environmental standing. Subject to funding, year two will see the implementation of supporting actions and enhanced management on participating farms. Year two assessment will seek to identify the scale of resultant environmental and biodiversity improvements following implementation.
• Development of application and payment system
• Establish scoring system
• Identify suitable farm advisors
• Open application process to farmers
• Training for farmers and advisors
• On farm assessment and scoring to set baselines and year 1 payment
• Identify management measures required and support actions (e.g. fencing, water systems etc) needed at farm level to improve environmental conditions
• Funding applications to be made to the Department for supporting actions
• Funding approval for supporting actions
• Year 1 payments to issue to farmers
• Ongoing training for farmers and advisors
• Supporting actions (capital investment and management) to be implemented on participating farms
• On farm assessment and scoring to assess the impact of investment actions and implementation of management measures
• Payments to issue to farmers for results achieved
Grasslands using a “whole field” approach, based on three elements: the field itself, the field boundary and the field margin. As a move away from the prescribed approach of GLAS, participants will be trained to manage their land according to the needs of the holding. The pilot will be weighted towards maintenance and enhancement of existing farm features and management rather than the creation of new features and habitats.
Grassland parcels/fields in any part of the country with potential for environmental improvement. Subject to the quality of applications received the project will seek to include farms from a broad geographic spread covering different farming conditions.
1. Engage the services of an eligible advisor from a list to be provided by the Department
2. Attend training sessions over the course of the pilot for which the participant will be paid
Participating farmers will operate under the guidance of their trained advisor and will be expected to manage the land they bring into the pilot in a manner that produces the best possible environmental and biodiversity returns. While advisors will be responsible for the assessment and scoring, this should be done with the involvement of the participating farmer.
The pilot will be advertised nationally and will be open to farmers who have not participated in GLAS and who are not currently in an agri-environment scheme. The application process will be a single page online form. A list of advisors who have indicated interest will be made available to applicants. If a farmer’s regular advisor is not listed he/she will need to choose from the list for the purposes of the pilot. While the final criteria are to be decided, the following will be included;
• Applicant must be eighteen or over on the date of the application
• Be the holder of an active herd number
• Have all land to be brought into the pilot in the applicant’s name declared on their BPS application for
2020
• Has not participated in GLAS
• Not currently in an agri-environment scheme
• Has engaged an advisor eligible for the pilot
Each participant will be expected to undertake compulsory training sessions with a payment to farmers.
Participating farmers will engage the services of an advisor. The advisor will be paid by the farmer. The Department will not have a contractual relationship with advisors and will not be liable for payment of advisor fees or expenses. Advisors will be responsible for land assessment and scoring and for ongoing guidance of their clients throughout the term of the pilot. To ensure knowledge transfer to farmers, advisors will involve their clients in the assessment and scoring functions.
1. An integrated score card will be used to assess farm features
2. Scoring will be undertaken by trained advisors with participation of the farmer
3. Scoring in year 1 will be mainly based on the existing quality of features and will establish the 2021 payment. This will both reward farmers for good management to date and also set a baseline for future scoring
4. Scores uploaded to the Department’s Generic Land Management System (GLAM) by the participant’s advisor.
5. Assessment and evaluation of the scoring achieved on a sample of participating farms will be undertaken by the Department’s inspectorate division.
6. Draft scorecard to consider:
a. Positive environmental / biodiversity indicators present
b. Combined cover of positive indicators throughout the plot
c. Combined cover of negative indicators throughout the plot
d. Vegetation structure
e. Management of boundary features
f. Management of field margins
g. Evidence of any damaging activities to vegetation, soil or water
h. Comments/recommendations to be brought to the farmer’s attention and recommended actions to rectify or improve field score in the short/medium term
The payment rates will be decided with reference to income foregone, additional costs of specific environmental management and transaction costs.
It is expected that a hybrid payment system will be used. This will be made up of the following components;
• a base payment
• an additional top-up payment calculated in line with the environmental and biodiversity results achieved over the course of the pilot
• payment for supporting/capital actions
It should be noted that this pilot project will be subject to state aid rules applicable to the agricultural sector including regulations governing De Minimis requirements.
The initial farm assessment to be conducted by the advisor in year one will identify management and investment actions required to improve environmental and biodiversity standing. Subject to funding, it is proposed that a list of potential complementary actions may be made available to participant farms. Farmers may apply to the Department for funding for each of these actions.
Examples of such actions include:
1. Water provision for livestock (to facilitate having riparian margins)
2. Fencing /gates (to facilitate field margins /water course buffer management)
3. Hedgerow and tree planting
4. Seeds to encourage pollinators
Views of interested parties regarding the design and implementation of the results based pilot are now sought. Those wishing to input to this process can do so via the survey link below
An Irish version of the survey is available on request from rbp@agriculture.gov.ie.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collecting this data to inform the development of the proposed agri-environment results based pilot project. No submissions will be shared externally. If any responses are published subsequently, the data will be in an amalgamated format to prevent any identification.. Should you wish to later withdraw this given consent then please email us at rbp@agriculture.gov.ie .
All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation. Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collecting this data to inform the development of the proposed agri-environment results based pilot project. No submissions will be shared externally. This data collected will be processed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR EU 2016/679), the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018, the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and the DPER Consultation Principles and Guidance. Any additional personal data received as part of your submission will not be processed, shared, or retained and will be destroyed upon receipt. Publication to the Departments website of personal data associated with submissions will only take place where permission is received to do this.
Further information on Data Protection can be found on our website https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/ef9f6-data-protection
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy and employs appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access. The Department will not process your personal data for any purpose other than that for which they were collected. Personal data may be exchanged with other Government Departments, local authorities, agencies under the aegis of the Department, or other public bodies, in certain circumstances where this is provided for by law.
The Department will only retain your personal data for as long as it is necessary for the purposes for which they were collected and subsequently processed. When the business need to retain this information has expired, it will be examined with a view to destroying the personal data as soon as possible, and in line with Department policy.
Queries relating to the operation of this consultation process can be addressed to rbp@agriculture.gov.ie
29th January 2021
