The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed to Agriland that over 6,000 Area Monitoring System (AMS) notifications have been sent to farmers this year.

The AMS is an automated digital system that uses satellite data to monitor farming activities across Ireland.

The system interprets Copernicus Sentinel Satellite imagery to provide decisions agricultural activity on declared land parcels, of which there are approximately 1.1 million in Ireland.

Under the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the AMS is mandatory across all EU member states to monitor compliance with farm scheme criteria.

DAFM is monitoring all area-based schemes using the AMS in 2026.

AMS

In June 2026, the department issued 1,447 notifications for the presence of a potential artificial surface because of the AMS.

An artificial surface is an ineligible feature, particularly a permanent structure, such as a house, farm roadway or farm building.

Farmers or their Farm Advisory System (FAS) advisor could reply to these notifications until July 8.

84% of AMS notifications for the presence of an artificial surface were responded to by the closing date.

The second round of 3,222 notifications issued in mid-July, which related to potential non-compliances for incorrect crops and no evidence of agricultural activity.

Earlier this month, the final round with 1,413 of AMS notifications for 2026.

These notifications included further potential non-compliances detected for incorrect crops and no evidence of agricultural activity.

There were also notifications for potential presence of multiple crops, potential ineligible areas and no evidence of winter bird food for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

The department confirmed the deadline for receipt of completed responses for both rounds 2 and 3 is September 1, 2026.

DAFM previously confirmed that there is no penalty for non-response to an AMS notification.

"Where the AMS determines that a land parcel(s) has not met the area-based eligibility conditions of any scheme applied for, payments may be reduced, and penalties may apply," it added.

In 2025, over 5,500 AMS notifications were issued to farmers and their advisors.