The 6,000 successful farmers, of the 10,000 that applied, will shortly receive their contract for the new Agri-environmental Options Scheme (AOES).
The contracts commence this month. Under AEOS 3, strict selection criteria were applied in choosing the successful applications.
Farmers with commonage land and designated Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas, who will be required to follow a ‘Sustainable Management and Grazing Plan’, were given first access to the scheme and will make up the majority of participants.
Others who have been successful include farmers who were previously active in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), and, as such, have a proven track record in the role of conservation and land management.
Farmers should not undertake any actions listed in their application until approved for participation in the scheme, as actions undertaken or expense incurred prior to formal approval will not be eligible for reimbursement.
While the contract period will be for a period of five years and eight months, the terms and conditions and payment rates for the new participants in the scheme will apply until the end of 2013. At that stage, participants will have the option of either terminating the contract without penalty or of opting to join whatever scheme may be introduced in the new EU Financial Perspective programming period.
Source: Thursday 06 June 2013 – farmersjournal.ie – http://www.farmersjournal.ie/