The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. Farmers commit, when approved into the Scheme, to undertake certain actions.
There are a number of actions within ACRES which require plants from nurseries. My Department considered it prudent, as part of the development work on the proposed interventions in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, to alert nurseries of potential demand for plants following the roll-out of new schemes from 2023.
A Trader Notice (No. 12 of 2021) was accordingly issued in December 2021, by the Horticulture and Plant Health Division of my Department, to all professional operators highlighting the anticipated demand for plants from farmers arising from participation in the eco-scheme and ACRES, and advising that there would be strong farmer demand for trees and hedging plants over the period 2023-2027. This Notice also indicated the proposed tree and hedgerow species and size(s) required under these schemes.
One action within ACRES for which such plants are required is ‘Planting a new hedgerow’. Participants whose contracts include this action are required to plant the contracted length of the new hedgerow by 31 March 2024.
In response to the heightened demand for hedgerow plants in recent months, my Department has notified ACRES advisors that participants who select the Whitethorn species, Crataegus monogyna, as their chosen hedgerow species for a new hedgerow, will no longer have to meet the Irish Provenance or Irish Origin requirement when purchasing plants from DAFM registered professional operators. This is a limited amendment to the requirements as the removal of the Irish Provenance/Irish Origin requirement relates to Whitethorn species only and does not encompass the other seven hedgerow species that are listed in the specification for that action.
The amendment applies to the planting of new hedgerows included in ACRES contracts issued under ACRES Tranche 1 and those to be issued under ACRES Tranche 2, and also for the relevant Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) if/when approved for ACRES Co-operation participants. ACRES Circular No. 27 of 2023, which is available on my Department’s website, refers.
