Reminder to participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) about Winter Bird Food actions

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine wishes to advise farmers who are participating in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), whose contracts include a Winter Bird Food action (whether Winter Bird Food plot or Winter Bird Food strip), that as stated in the ACRES Specifications for each Tranche, the Winter Bird Food crop must be established by 15 May each year for the duration of the contract. The deadline this year is accordingly Friday, 15 May 2026.

The ACRES Specifications are available at on the Department’s website at ACRES Terms and Conditions, Specifications and Circulars (www.gov.ie)

As you will be aware, harvesting of the crop is not permitted and must remain in situ until 1 March of the following year, and that the Winter Bird Food action must remain in the same location for the duration of the contract.

As previously advised in the Technical Notice issued by the Department on 4 March 2026 (available at Update for participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) (www.gov.ie), the establishment of the Winter Bird Food action is one of the ACRES actions being monitored by the Area Monitoring System (AMS) in 2026.

While the Department is issuing this notice as an aid to remind participants of the deadline for establishment of the Winter Bird Food crop by the required deadline, it is the responsibility of the participant to ensure they comply with the ACRES terms and conditions and the associated specifications (and any amendments thereof) and with the consequences for breaches of the aforementioned. A participant continues to be fully responsible for the implementation of the commitments entered into under the contract for the duration of their contract.

Notes for Editors

• The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between society and agriculture that ensures a stable supply of food, safeguards farmers’ income, protects the environment and keeps rural areas vibrant. EU countries implement the CAP 2023-27 with a CAP Strategic Plan at national level.
• The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is co-funded by the National Exchequer and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
• ACRES is the agri-environment climate measure under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.
• There are two approaches within the Scheme:
• ACRES General, available nationally (outside of the high priority geographical area as defined for the ACRES Co-operation approach below), which offers a range of measures (both prescription and result-based); and
• ACRES Co-operation, available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas. Map in Annex 1 of the ACRES Terms and Conditions for both Tranches shows the 8 ACRES Co-operation zones, with an ACRES Co-operation Project (CP) Team in place in each zone to assist the participants. Participants in the ACRES Co-operation approach may apply for complementary environmental actions in the form of Non-Productive Investments and Landscape Actions.

‘Winter Bird Food Plot’ & ‘Winter Bird Food Strip’ actions

• The objective of the Winter Bird Food action is to provide a tailored food source for farmland birds throughout the autumn and winter.
• The scarcity of food throughout the winter period generates a serious challenge for the survival of many farmland birds. The establishment of a winter bird food crop, which is specifically tailored to support the eating habitats of numerous farmland species, has proven to be effective in reversing declining bird populations across Europe. These spring-sown winter bird food mixes provide a concentrated seed source so even small areas can have a tremendous impact by supporting a diverse range of bird species.

Area Monitoring System (AMS)

• AMS interprets Sentinel satellite imagery which enables the Department to determine agricultural activities on the 1.3 million declared land parcels in the country.
• A land parcel flagged by AMS as red indicates an error which may result in a notification being issued to the applicant. An error could include an ineligible crop sown to meet the requirements of a particular scheme, an incorrect crop declared on BISS (different to what AMS has identified on the ground) or the presence of an ineligible feature such as a roadway or residence.
• AMS may be complemented with follow up checks on the ground by a Department Inspector to provide further clarification. Failure to respond to an AMS notification may result in a delay to scheme payments.
• Further information relating to AMS and replying to AMS notifications is available on the Department’s website.