Application window for ACRES NPIs now open
The application window for Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has opened.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has announced today (Wednesday, July 1) that the application system for NPIs, available to farmers participating in the co-operation approach of ACRES, has re-opened.
Minister Heydon said: “There are a number of innovative elements within ACRES, one of which is the availability of support for a range of voluntary complementary environmental actions which ACRES Co-operation farmers may apply for.
"NPIs are voluntary actions which an ACRES Co-operation [participant] may undertake on their own holding to support them in the management of their holding and enhance the environmental standard of the land in question.
"An improvement in the environmental standard can in turn result in the land meriting a higher score when assessed and translate into a higher rate of payment under the results-based payment approach in ACRES.”
Application process
This is the fourth application window for NPIs and the same application process is in place as for the previous application windows in 2023, 2024 and last year, Minister Heydon said.
"I encourage ACRES Co-operation farmers to engage with their ACRES advisor to look at the NPIs available and the way in which some of those actions could address issues impacting their score as it is the advisor who submits the NPI application on their behalf," the minister said.
"This year’s application window is opening a month earlier than last year’s and coincides with ACRES advisors being out assessing and scoring lands for ACRES payments.
"There has been a good uptake of NPIs so far and I consider that ACRES Co-operation farmers should again look at the options available to them in the form of NPIs so that NPI applications may be prepared and submitted this year by the closing date of October 14, 2026.”
ACRES NPIs
In relation to the uptake of NPIs so far, the minister noted that just under €8.5 million has already been paid out to date in respect of the implementation of the NPIs approved from the 2023 and 2024 application windows.
He said there is more to be paid out upon the implementation of those approved from the 2025 application window.
The minister concluded by drawing the attention of the farmers concerned and their ACRES advisors to the publication of updated specifications for the implementation of approved NPIs.
