Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP)

1. What the Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) is
2. How to qualify
3. Rate of payment
4. REAP Training Presentations
5. Apply

6. Contact
7. Frequently Raised Topics
8. Terms and Conditions and other documentation
9. Approved advisors
10. Public Consultation and Outcome

What the Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) is

The Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) is an agri-environment pilot project that pays farmers to maintain and improve the environmental conditions of their land.

Farmers will bring in between 2ha and 10ha of land which will be scored in year one to establish its environmental condition. Farmers will work with their advisers to undertake environmental improvement works on the land that can increase the environmental score in year two. REAP will focus on improving existing farm features rather than the creation of new features and habitats. Farms with higher environmental scores will receive larger payments.

The programme will run to the end of 2022.

How to qualify

To be eligible for REAP, you must:

engage the services of an approved adviser
be aged 18 years or over
be the holder of an active herd number
have declared all land you want to bring into the pilot in your name on your BPS application for 2020. You must also declare this land on the associated BPS application in 2021 and 2022
be in a position to deliver the required works
not have previously received GLAS
participate in training
not be getting a payment from a European Innovation Partnership project (EIP)

You must read the Terms and Conditions

Rate of payment

The following are payments under the programme:

a participation payment of €1,200 to cover costs
an environmental results-based payment, which is determined by the environmental score. The maximum payment is €4,000
a payment of up to €1,200 for the planting of trees, hedgerows and for hedgerow infilling. REAP can provide a maximum payment of €12,600 over the terms of the contract

REAP Training Presentations

Apply

Your advisor can apply for you on agfood.ie . The closing date for receipt of applications is 10 May.

Contact

REAP

Address:

Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford. , Y35 PN52

Email:

rbp@agriculture.gov.ie

Phone number:

+353 (0) 53 916 3425

Frequently Raised Topics

Q. Does all land entered in REAP need to be owned by the participant?

A. No land can be leased, rented or owned.

Q. Can land entered be withdrawn during the project?

A. Land entered should be retained for the duration of the contract or penalties may apply.

Q. What is the minimum and maximum land area that may be entered?

A. 2ha is the minimum and 10ha is the maximum except in the case of partnerships.

Q. Is there a limit on the number of applications that an advisor may submit?

A. No there is no limit on the number of applications that an advisor may submit.

Q. How long will REAP operate for?

A. REAP will run for the remainder of 2021 and the duration of 2022.

Q. Will REAP reopen for new entrants in 2022?

A. There will only be one tranche and it will not reopen for new applicants in 2022.

Q. Does a farmer need to engage an advisor for REAP?

A. Yes but the farmer may change to another approved advisor at any stage of the project once they have received approval from the REAP section.

Q. Can a farmer submit an application?

A. All applications are submitted by an advisor through the Department Agfood system.

Q. When is the closing date to submit applications?

A. The application must be submitted by May 10th.

Q. Can an advisor submit their own application?

A. No an advisor cannot submit their own application.

Q. Does the advisor need to assess the land before the application is submitted?

A. No. The advisor does not need to assess the land until after the training takes place in June.

Q. When will approval letters issue?

A. Approval letters will issue in May.

Q. Will the advisor receive a copy of the approval letter?

A. The approval letters will issue to the applicant, but the advisor will receive notification of approvals.

Q. Will there be a limit on the overall number of participants?

A. It is likely there will be such a limit, but we are awaiting confirmation from the European Commission.

Q. Can I apply as a farmer and also as a partnership?

A. No. One application is permitted using either a herd number or partnership number.

Q. Are partnerships eligible to join REAP?

A. Yes. Section 25 of the terms and conditions refer to Partnerships.

Q. Can partnerships be formed during the project?

A. Yes, provided all farmers involved have land in the project. Additional farmers may also be added to herd numbers during the course of the project once all party’s consent.

Q. Will further validations take place to confirm eligibility during the project?

A. Yes. Checks will take place at payment stage to ensure that all participants are eligible for the project.

Q. Can an applicant who did not submit a 2020 BPS application enter REAP?

A. No. All applicants must have submitted a valid 2020 BPS application including all lands to be entered into REAP.

Q. Can a herd number currently in the “REPS of” apply for REAP?

A. No, “REPS of” herd numbers are not eligible for REAP.

Q. Can someone who is in GLAS apply for REAP?

A. No. Anyone who was ever approved into GLAS is ineligible for REAP.

Q. If a partnership has a member or members who were approved to GLAS at any time can the partnership enter REAP?

A. No, if one of the members were approved into GLAS at any time the partnership are not eligible for REAP.

Q. Can someone currently in an EIP apply for REAP?

A. Anyone who was a participant in any of the following schemes or projects since January 1st, 2021 is not eligible for REAP:

• BRIDE - Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying Environment

• Blackstairs Farming Futures (BFF) Sustainable farming project in the Blackstairs Mountains

• The Duncannon Blue Flag Farming & Communities Scheme

• Caomhnú Árann

• The Conservation of Breeding Curlew in Ireland

• A Sustainable Agricultural Plan for the MacGillycuddy Reeks - Conservation and restoration of Upland Habitat in the MacGillycuddy Reeks

• Farming Rathcroghan Project- Sustainable Farming in the Rathcroghan Archaeological Landscape

• Protecting Farmland Pollinators

• Inishowen Upland Farmers Project

• Mulkear EIP-Innovation, Technology & KT for Farmer Led Enhancement of Water Quality, Instream Habitat and Riparian Management in the Mulkear Catchment

• Locally Led Scheme for the Conservation of the Hen Harrier

• Pearl Mussel Project – Farming for nature in a vibrant rural economy.

• Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS)

• Allow Project - Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments

• North Connemara Locally Led Agri-environmental Scheme

• Organic Farming Scheme

• Burren Programme

Q. Why are commonage lands and land containing heather excluded from REAP?

A. REAP is a pilot project (and not a full Scheme), and similar to other EIP projects, it has a relatively narrow focus regarding its objectives. The scorecard in REAP has been developed to assess the sustainability of agricultural grasslands but is not designed to assess other habitat types such as those typically found on commonages nor fields containing heather. Thus, these field types are not suitable for this particular pilot project”. It should also be noted that several other EIP projects are testing measures/scorecards on these types of land and thus it is also important to avoid duplicating the work of these other projects. For example EIPs such the Hen Harrier Project, Pearl Mussel Project, the North Connemara Locally Led Agri-environmental Scheme, A Sustainable Agricultural Plan for the MacGillycuddy Reeks, Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme SUAS, Inishowen Upland Farmers Project as well as the Blackstairs Farming Futures (BFF) Sustainable farming project.

Q. How will applicants be selected if the project is oversubscribed?

A. If ranking and selection is required, two separate groups will be identified based on their stocking levels (one with less than 140kg N/ha stocking rate and one for farmers with greater than 140kg N/ha stocking) to ensure that the two scorecards developed can be tested on the appropriate enterprise types. The Low input Grassland has been designed to be largely suited to extensive farmer and the Multi-Species Ley has been designed with more intensive farmer in mind. It is important to note that these groups themselves are not in direct competition with each other but will be used to ensure we get a proportionate uptake from each group to test the scorecards. Applicants will then be ranked against other applicants within their group on their water status, proportion of Natura levels and proportion of ANC levels. Stocking rates are not a criteria in this process once the applicant has been allocated to their appropriate group and thus no farmers are excluded due to stocking rate. Consideration may also be given to ensuring an appropriate geographical spread of participants.

Q. What is the situation with stone walls that have become covered with briars and are now a stock proofed barrier and a good wildlife corridor?

A: This feature is not eligible to be assessed as a stonewall, as there is no stonewall maintenance requirement in this case.

Q. Can farmer draw down €1,200 base payment and €1,200 action payment and not bother with Low Input or Multi-Species Ley scorecards?

A: No, the project is primarily about field testing of environmental scorecards. Thus, all farmers must participate and engage with the scorecard assessment component on a minimum of 2 hectares of land in order to qualify for the participation and complementary actions payments.

Q. Are tillage farms eligible for REAP?

A: If a tillage farmer has grassland suitable for the Low-Input Grassland or fields suitable for reseeding with the Multi-Species Ley they are eligible for REAP.

Q. Will temporary electric fences suffice for fencing off field margins?

A. Yes, temporary electric fences are allowed, provided they are suitable for the type of livestock on the farm.

Q .Should fenced margins be marked on the 2021 BPS or as Low Input Grassland on BPS?

A. No. All REAP scorecard fields, field margins and complementary actions will be mapped by the advisor at a later stage, on DAFM‘s, Generic Land Management System (GLAM). Hence, there is no need for any REAP applicants to change anything on BPS for the purposes of the REAP application.

Q. From what has been presented, walls in poor condition are to be left as is? Why not pay applicants to repair suitable walls?

A: This is a results-oriented project; thus, payments are structured based on outcomes and improvements in quality/condition. Hence, if stone walls are in an initial poor condition, a farmer may decide to repair/improve their condition, so that they can qualify for an increased score and payment in future years.

Q. Is the project open to hill farmers?

A. Hill farmers with suitable lowland fields are eligible to join the project by entering their lowland fields. (As per T & C, Commonage land and land with heather is not eligible.)

Q. Can the Low Input Grassland be topped during the season or there any prescriptions to follow?

A: REAP is predominantly a results-oriented project, hence there are no detailed prescriptions for the main scorecard actions in the same way as for previous agri-environmental schemes. Farmers will be given guidance on how to optimize their field scores and it is up to individual farmers how to implement that guidance. However, in the case of optional hay meadows and fenced field margins, there are a few conditions laid down in the specifications, which must be followed.

Q. Are there any fertilizer limits on Low Input Grassland or Multi-Specie Ley fields?

A: REAP is predominantly a results-oriented project, hence there are no detailed prescriptions for the main scorecard actions. Farmers will be given guidance on how to optimize their field scores and it is up to individual farmers how to implement that guidance. As regards fertilizer use, the lower the input the better, as this scenario will optimize species diversity under LIG. Fertiliser use should also be lowered under the Multi-Species Ley scorecard due to the present of legumes in the mix, which will fix freely available Nitrogen.

Q. Is there a list of indicator species for Low Input Grassland or Multi-Species Ley fields?

A: Yes, these lists are published separately on the REAP website.

Q. How many species need to be sown to receive max payment under that Multi-Species score card?

A: A minimum of 3 non-grass species must be sown under the Multi-Species Lay scorecard. Maximum score for the species component applies for 7 or more species sown. Additional points can be earned by inserting fenced field margins and from appropriate hedgerow and/or stonewall management.

Q. If a farmer opts to put a margin along the full length of a watercourse can they allow a break for a drinking point?

A: Field margins must be in contiguous lengths along the full field boundary (no breaks allowed for drinking points)

Q. The information booklet states, "rest meadows/pastures during main flowering season". What exactly does "rest" mean in this context? No grazing at all during this period? Grazing at a very low stocking rate? Can you clarify what is expected?

A: Meadows must be closed-up with no grazing or machinery operations to take place for at least 6 weeks prior to cutting. (The earliest date meadows may be cut for hay/silage is July 1st but may be cut up to the end of August). There are no requirements for pasture, but light summer grazing is recommended to allow plants to flower and set seed, thereby increasing your field score.

Q. If a client has a large parcel with a section of it heather and a section of suitable grassland, is the whole parcel ineligible or just the heather section?

A: Field must be defined by a permanent boundary such as hedgerows, drains, other fences. Wire fence boundaries require timber stakes and appropriate wire fencing to qualify as a field boundary. For an existing field with heather/ other grassland each section (sub-field) would have to be split with an appropriate fence to identify and mark the boundary of the REAP field (excluding the ineligible separately fenced heather section).

Q. Is there a minimum stocking rate for REAP applicants?

A: There is no minimum stocking density to qualify for REAP

Q. How will REAP be evaluated and will there be inspections?

A: The scorecards and other actions will be monitored and assessed by DAFM. This will require some field visits to check the operation of the scoring system. Field scores may need to be adjusted (upwards or downwards) as part of this process, but penalties will not apply as long as the tolerances set down in the terms and conditions are not breached. Farmers and advisors will also be expected to engage and share their experience of the pilot with the project team throughout the period, and this is an important aspect for reviewing the operation of the project.

Q:Are the field margins areas created in REAP eligible for BPS and ANC ?

A:Fenced field margin areas in REAP, which are managed in accordance with the specification, are eligible for ANC/BPS, provided that they are maintained in such a condition as to ensure the land is suitable for grazing or cultivation.