The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has “fallen flat on its face” and many farmers are now considering leaving the scheme completely, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has warned today (Wednesday, August 14).
IFA hill farming chair, Caillin Conneely, said farmers are disillusioned with the scheme, particularly those who are still waiting on ACRES payments.
Conneely today (Wednesday, August 14) appealed to the minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to “remove whatever obstacles” are in the way to ensure that balancing ACRES payments to hill farmers and those in co-operation zones are paid as soon as possible.
“Cashflow is becoming more and more an issue on farms. Farmers need their ACRES payments today, not whenever it suits the department.
“We were told it was coming in May, then June, and more recently all would be sorted before end September. The goalposts keep moving to suit the department, not the farmer,” he added.
ACRES
It is estimated that in the region of 10,000 farmers are currently waiting on balancing ACRES payments.
Last month, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) also confirmed that 1,039 general participants and 4,748 in cooperation farmers had been overpaid by a total of €10.06 million following interim payments issued in February.
Conneely said that what is now needed is a “serious clear-out of the backlog” of payments by DAFM.
“They need to devote whatever resources are needed to quickly sort out this mess.
“They need to engage with farmers so they know where they stand, and they must provide assurances that these ongoing delays will not have any consequences for advance 2024 Tranche 1 or Tranche 2 ACRES payments,” he added.
According to Conneely, one of the key issues for farmers is that they “do not know where they stand” when it comes to ACRES because of both delays and confusion over payments.
The IFA hill farming chair said there are also still outstanding questions around scoring and exclusion zones.
“We will be engaging with the department seeking an urgent meeting of the Charter Monitoring Committee to get greater clarity and a speedy resolution,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Victor Boyhan has confirmed that he had contacted Minister McConalogue’s office in support of the IFA’s concern about withholding balancing ACRES payments to hill farmers and those in ACRES Co-Operation zones.
“Many farmers are experiencing sever cashflow problems and need their ACRES payments as promised,” the senator said.
“It is estimated that there are over 10,000 farmers waiting on their balancing payments. The IFA wants the department to proactively engage with farmers, so they know where they stand financially.
You will appreciate that farmers entered the scheme in good faith, worked collaboratively with advisors and took environmental actions; if confidence is to be rebuilt in ACRES, fairness, clarity, and timely payments must be honoured.
“I have asked the minister to advise me on the pathway proposed by your department for a resolution of this matter,” the senator concluded.