To encourage the use of minimum tillage practices.
Total Cost
€23.00
Cross-compliance requires farmers to maintain soil structure and organic matter status.
Encouragement of minimum tillage contributes to carbon sequestration in soil
Basis of Natura 2000 Costings for AEOS
Measure.
Baseline: Cross Compliance etc. requirement
Basis of payment.
Amount (€/ha)
Natura
Under Cross- Compliance farmer must abide by the conditions (Notifiable Actions) of Site designations.
Respect GAEC and relevant SMRs: 1and 5.
There is no requirement to develop and implement a Sustainable Grazing Management Plan for the habitat.
Production of a Sustainable Management Plan by a trained ecologist/agronomist in order to enhance the conservation status of the site.
Implement management plan.
Total Payment*
*these costs have been independently verified by Teagasc
€17.00
€58
€75.00
Wild bird habitats
(corncrake sites)
Farmer within this Natura site must abide by cross-compliance requirements.
There is no requirement to follow a detailed management prescription for the sites.
Income forgone
Inefficient work practices
Transaction cost
Total
€162.25
€100.00
€52.45
€314.7071
Table indicating Community Priorities addressed by each programme action W = Water Quality C = Climate Change L = Landscape B = Biodiversity
(W, C, L & B are priorities set out in Community Axis 2 Guidelines)
Opt. = Option only – no additional payment
Supp. = Supplementary Measure only – additional payment
Opt. / Supp. = Can be Option or Supp. Measure – No additional payment when selected as an Option
Long/medium-term justification in terms of extra cost, loss of income and financial inducement for farming beyond GAEC
Provide a comprehensive approach to the conservation and/or regeneration of land farmed in common
Natura Commonage Areas
a) Destocking
Reduction in ewes per hectare to an agriculturally sustainable level
b) Habitat retention including prohibited practices
The following practices are prohibited on commonage lands:
Drainage, ploughing, cultivation, reseeding, infilling or rock removal
Turf cutting on unexploited bogs, planting trees or other crops. No new tracks or paths to be created
Burning only allowed as a planned management practice.
Use of fertilisers and plant protection products
In addition, supplementary feeding practices will be restricted. The location of feeding points will have to be sited to encourage the dispersal of livestock throughout the outwintering area. To minimise heavy grazing, trampling and poaching ‘feeding points’ should be moved every 3 weeks and sited on ground with least habitat and wildlife value, preferably on grassland well away from stands of heather. Feeding on steep slopes and on peaty soils should be avoided where possible. Restrictions on the application of organic nutrients in water quality sensitive areas also apply.
c) Grassland and soil management plan
Adopt a grassland and soil management plan that avoids poaching, overgrazing/undergrazing, soil erosion and run-off leading to the damage of heather or other natural vegetation or wetlands habitats.
17
86
29
Stock ewes at an agriculturally sustainable level of 5 ewes/ha on commonage land while meeting the statutory requirements in relation to waste management, water, wildlife, and target areas.
Maximise land, labour and machinery productivity by improving land through reclamation, reseeding, burning vegetation, turf cutting, planting trees and creating paths which may involve the removal of wildlife habitats not protected under legislation.
Use of pesticides fertilisers and lime in compliance with requirements of waste management, water, wildlife, target areas, and the Statutory Code of Good Plant Protection Practice and the Nitrate Code.
Use the most cost-effective and convenient method of supplementary feeding and application of nutrients while meeting the statutory requirements in relation to waste management, water, target areas and wildlife.
Maximise stocking rate of animals outwintered up to the agriculturally sustainable level in order to minimise costs of overwintering animals while meeting the statutory requirements in relation to waste management, water, target areas and wildlife.
Average stocking rate of hill sheep is 5 ewes/ha. Target is to reduce this to 3 ewes/ha. Reduction in sheep numbers will be 2 ewes per hectare less than the agriculturally sustainable level. Margin per ewe being €20. Market losses based on average stock reduction of 2 ewes/ha to prevent overgrazing. Alternatively, prevention of undergrazing may require maintenance of non–viable stock.
These extensive series of restrictions and prohibitions taken together will have a significant impact on land and labour productivity and the viability of farming in these areas. Unless the opportunity costs arising from these restrictions are adequately compensated for, farming in commonage areas will not be sustainable and the area will be abandoned and the habitat value lost.
The opportunity cost from the loss of production due to the restriction on the use of applying fertilisers, liming material or pesticides
Extra labour cost arising from a change in current supplementary feeding practice which led to damage to land and wildlife habitats to specified undertakings outlined under this measure. Additional costs will also arise due to restrictions on the application of organic nutrients in water quality sensitive areas.
Costings as outlined for in Measure (ii) in the basic REPS for Grassland Farmers, which involve increasing the length of the overwintering period of livestock in buildings/yards in order to reduce the risk of poaching of land leading to soil erosion and run-off
d) Fencing
Comply with the fencing undertakings associated with the commonage framework plan and stockproofing the boundary between the commonage and privately owned land.
Fencing costs associated with undertakings in the commonage framework plan and stockproofing the boundary between the commonage and privately owned land. Average number of metres/ha of commonage to be fenced is 8 @ average cost/m/yr of 1€.
Additional costs associated with involving an environmentalist with the preparation of a REPS plan with commonage
It is estimated that the presence of commonage as part of a holding restricts the farmer’s ability to farm his/her lowland in response to market demands; thereby reducing the profitability of the lowland by approximately one third.
Total Cost of above undertakings
242
It is proposed that payment for designated commonage be degressive €242 on first 40ha; €24 on next 40ha and €18 on next 40ha and €5 thereafter. Note: No agri-environment (REPS) payment applies to designated commonage.
Privately-owned Natura
Measure No.
Area
REPS Specification Action
Amount
(€/ha)
Long/medium-term justification in terms of extra cost, loss of income and financial inducement for farming beyond GAEC
Provide a comprehensive approach to the conservation and/or regeneration of designated target areas
Privately-owned SACs and SPAs
a) Destocking
Reduction of stock numbers to an environmentally sustainable level may be necessary.
b) Habitat retention and prohibited practices
The following practices shall not be carried out in SAC and SPA lands.
There shall be no infilling or rock/gravel/sand removal.
Planting trees or other crops is not permitted.
No new tracks or paths shall be created.
Burning will only be allowed as a planned management practice.
Gorse may be controlled by cutting, spot spraying or exceptionally by burning outside of the bird-nesting season (late February to 31 August).
e) Ecologist advisory involvement
Total Cost of above undertakings
nil
60
6
66
Stock at an agriculturally sustainable level per hectare while meeting the statutory requirements in relation to waste management, water, target areas and wildlife.
There is a significant impact on land and labour productivity and the viability of farming in these areas.
Unless the opportunity costs arising from these restrictions are adequately compensated for, farming in commonage areas will not be sustainable and the area will be abandoned and the habitat value lost.
This costing is additional to the costs involved in the conservation of wildlife habitats that has already been accounted for under Measures 4 and 5 of the REPS agri-environment programme 1 costings.
Additional costs associated with involving an environmentalist with the preparation of a REPS plan with target area
Appendix 4
The attached table outlines the appropriate national legislation that has relevance to the measures under this programme.
National Legislation—Environment
Statutory Provision
Implementing Body
Penalties
Air Pollution Act, 1987
The act provides for control of air pollution which may be injurious to public health, have a deleterious
effect on flora and fauna or which may impair or interfere with amenities of the Environment.
Local Authorities
Fine, (a) on summary conviction, not exceeding €1,270 and €127 per day the offence is committed and (b) on
conviction of indictment, a fine not exceeding €12,700 and €1,270 per day on every day the offence is committed.
Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1999 and Amendment Act 2003
These acts inter-alia provide for the establishment of the Central Fisheries Boards and define their functions.
Fisheries Boards
A fine, on conviction on indictment not exceeding €2,540 or 2 years imprisonment
or both.
Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 and Amendment Act, 1990.
Under the legislation it is an offence to pollute waters by chemicals, fertilisers, animal slurries, manures, silage effluent or other organic fertilisers.
Local Authorities
Contravention of bye-laws relating to water pollution carries a fine on conviction, not exceeding €1,270 and/or 6 months imprisonment and in certain cases a fine not exceeding €31,750 and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998
These regulations provide for specified improvements in water quality conditions in rivers and lakes based on phosphorus concentrations or related water quality classifications. They give effect to certain requirements under Council Directive 76/464/EEC.
Local Authorities
Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963—1999
Under the legislation, planning permission is required for certain on-farm building and structures.
Planning permission is not granted unless adequate waste storage facilities are provided.
Local Authorities
Contravention of the statutory requirements carries a fine, on conviction, of €1,905 to €12.7m and/or up to 2 years imprisonment.
Waste Management Act, 1996 and Amendment Act, 2001
The Act relates to the prevention, management and control of waste and provides Local Authorities with the powers to require the preparation of a farm Nutrient Management Plan where it is considered necessary. The Act also makes arrangement for the collection and disposal of recyclable waste material, including farm plastics.
Local Authorities
Fine, (a) on summary conviction, not exceeding €1,905 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or (b) on conviction or indictment not exceeding €12.7m and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998—2001.
These regulations prescribe standards for use of sewage sludge in agriculture. The Regulations give effect to Council Directive 86/278 EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in
agriculture.
Local Authorities
Fine, (a) on summary conviction, not exceeding €1,905 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or (b) on conviction or indictment,
not exceeding €12.7m and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
