Establishment and maintenance of habitats continued
National
| New grassland habitat
Conservation & creation of areas of high biodiversity on farmland.
Create 2.5m uncultivated field margin resulting in loss of production
Fence habitat to restrict livestock access at certain points in the year.
Maintenance of margin by grazing with animals.
|
€0.05/m
€3.30/m 68
€0.03/m
|
New grassland habitats
Creation of additional areas for wildlife on farms is not a requirement of cross-compliance
|
The opportunity cost of retaining /setting aside land as a wildlife habitat which could otherwise be used for commercial farming purposes.
Conservation of habitats often leads to irregular shaped plots, resulting in inefficient use of modern machinery work practices.
| 3. Tree Planting & Management
|
National
|
Tree Planting & Management:
Planting and maintenance of native trees in accordance with a specification, with particular emphasis on broad-leaved species.
a) Total cost per tree:
Tree (broadleaf tree)
9m of fence @ €3.30 /m
Supporting stake & Guard
Planting 1 hr @ €10/hr
TOTAL PER TREE
b) Planting whips (min 1.2m high)
cost of whip
supporting stake
tree planting and guard
TOTAL COST PER WHIP*
*these costs have been independently verified by Teagasc
|
€20.00
€29.70
€3.00
€10.00
€62.70 (see footnote 52)
€2.50
€2.00
€5.00
€9.50
|
The planting of trees is not a requirement under cross-compliance or National law.
|
Trees improve the appearance of the landscape and help to conserve wildlife. Planting of non-native trees is not permissible. The opportunity cost of setting aside land for tree planting which would otherwise be used for commercial farming purposes, plus the cost of the establishment and maintenance of trees is borne by farmer.
|
4.
Traditional Hay Meadows:
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National
|
Traditional Hay Meadows:
Enhancement of the conservation value and the continuation of traditional farming practice for traditional hay meadows.
Loss of production
Inefficient work practices
Saving on fertiliser costs
Transaction Cost
Total Cost
|
€302.00
€100.00
- €36.55
€73.09
€438.5469
|
There is no requirement to harvest forage as hay.
|
There will be additional costs on applicants by reverting to traditional forage making practices. The quantity and quality of forage saved fall below that normally made on commercial farms.
Normal practices for maintaining a highly productive sward will be prohibited, such as reseeding, excess liming and fertilisation
|
5. Species Rich Grasslands
|
|
Species Rich Grasslands
Maintaining species rich grasslands via prescribed management prescription and practices:
- fertilizer limited to 30kg per hectare
-specific grazing regime to preserve the habitat.
-topping permitted only after 15th July.
Loss of production
Inefficient work practices
Saving on fertiliser
Transaction Cost
Total Cost
Inefficient work practices arise
|
€302.00
€100.00
- €62.00
-
€68.00
€410.0070
|
There is no legal requirement to maintain non-designated species rich grassland.
|
Normal practices for maintaining a highly productive sward will be prohibited, such as reseeding, excess liming and fertilisation
|
6.
Animal Genetic Resources
|
National
|
Conservation of animal genetic resources.
Rear and mate herbivore of specific native breeds.
Be a member of the approved breed society.
Register offspring with the relevant breed society.
Maintain monthly records
Total Cost |
€200.00/per LU.
|
Cross-compliance does not require the rearing of animals of local breeds in danger of extinction. In general such production is not commercially viable.
|
There are opportunity costs in maintaining and breeding these local breeds in danger of extinction. There are also administrative costs in maintaining records and registration with the relevant society.
|
7. Traditional Orchards
| National | Traditional Orchards:
Setting up and preservation of meadow orchards.
Establish non-commercial orchard with traditional top fruit varieties selected from a published list; on vigorous rootstocks.
10 trees planted at 7 m spacings, to a minimum of 0.05 ha. Income forgone.
|
€75.00 per tree (see footnote 52)
€5.00/tree
|
Cross-compliance does not involve the growing of top fruit in danger of extinction as it is generally not commercially viable to do so.
|
The capital costs of planting land with non-commercial fruit varieties and their subsequent maintenance is a major cost of complying with the prescribed management practices for this measure. Average loss of income is the opportunity cost of setting-aside land which could otherwise be used for agricultural production
|
8.
Wild bird cover
|
National
|
Wild Bird Cover:
Establish, on suitable, grassland plots a low –input arable crop to provide cover and winter food source for farmland birds
Plough till and sow
Cost of seed
Loss of production
Total Annual Payment
|
€183.00
€82.00
€604.00
€869.00
|
No mandatory requirement
|
There is a significant cost in complying with the prescribed management practices for this action.
|
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