The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued over 8,900 notifications to farmers this year as a result of satellite farm inspections.
The department is monitoring all area based schemes using the Area Monitoring System (AMS) this year.
Under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the AMS is mandatory across all EU member states to monitor compliance with farm scheme criteria.
The AMS interprets satellite imagery to provide decisions on agricultural activity on all declared land parcels of which there are approximately 1.1 million in Ireland.
DAFM
The department has confirmed to Agriland that some 8,940 AMS notifications have been issued so far this year.
In June, 983 herdowners were notified of the presence of a potential artificial surface as a result of the AMS.
The department issued AMS notifications to 2,180 herdowners on July 10 for the potential presence of incorrect crops and multiple crop.
These notifications also included land parcels with a potential lack of evidence of agricultural activity.
The department spokesperson added that AMS notifications were issued to 3,054 herdowners on August 1 and 2,670 herdowners on August 15.
The notifications issued on August 15 included land parcels with a potential lack of evidence of winter bird food for farmers participating in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES)
“The AMS Notifications which issued on the August 1 and 15 included reminders for notifications issued on July 10 where the applicant or their Farm Advisory System (FAS) Advisor had not replied up to that point.
“The response window for these notifications closed on September 3,” the DAFM spokesperson said.
A further 53 herdowners were issued with AMS notifications last Thursday (September 5).
These notifications consisted of land parcels with the potential presence of incorrect crops for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and Protein Aid Scheme.
The department said that the closing date for responses to these notifications is September 23.
Farmers and their advisors were reminded that an AgriSnap photo is required on acceptance or rejection of these AMS notifications.