Scorecards for lands for results-based payments under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) are issuing this week.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is advising that for scores submitted to be deemed valid and used in the determination of ACRES payments in respect of 2026, they must be submitted by an approved ACRES advisor who hascompleted an in-field scorecard training course.

The scorecard training courses are being provided by the ACRES Co-operation Project (CP) teams.

There are a total of 16 courses - five mandatory courses for new advisors and 11 refresher courses - scheduled to take place over the coming weeks across ACRES CP regions.

DAFM said attendance at the refresher scorecard training course would be a "useful opportunity to remind yourself about what is involved".

The department said this year’s courses are also providing information on the way in which the assessment of lands can inform decision making on non-productive investments andlandscape actions, for which participants in the ACRES Co-operation approach may apply.

Scorecard submission

The deadline for submission of completed scorecards is August 31, 2026.

"You are reminded that once an ACRES scorecard has been submitted in full, it will not be possible to make further changes to the scorecard and it cannot subsequently be amended," DAFM said.

"It is therefore essential that advisors are fully satisfied that scorecards are correct at the time of submission."