The deadline for the submission of payment claims for 2024 non-productive investments (NPIs) under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has been extended.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) confirmed the closing date for claims in respect of the implementation of approved NPIs under NPI 2024 Annual Works Plans (AWPs) will now be January 25, 2027.

NPIs are voluntary actions which are available for farmers in the ACRES Co-operation approach.

The actions seek to address environmental issues on the farm, directly contribute to environmental objectives or increase the farmers capacity to improve field scores through management.

In a circular issued to advisors, the department noted that "onlyone payment claim per AWP may be submitted and each action should be completed/established/installed in compliance with specification before the claim is entered on the system".

The deparment asked advisors to bring the deadline extension to the attention of farmer who have been issued with decision letters in respect of 2024 NPIs.

ACRES

Meanwhile, a mechanism is now in place for ACRES Co-operation farmers to withdraw an ACRES Landscape Action Annual Works Plan (LA-AWP) in full.

Farmers can also withdraw individual Action Feature IDs from an LA-AWP where notification of approval for that LA-AWP has been issued.

The department said that withdrawal requests may be submitted by the participant, through their ACRES advisor or their local ACRES Co-operation Project (CP) Team on their behalf.

All withdrawal requests must be made in writing by email or post to the department.

DAFM noted that individual Action Feature ID(s) on a LA-AWP may only be withdrawn in full.

Amendments to individual Action Feature ID quantities will not be allowed.