Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has announced the financial allocations, along with support measures, to be included in the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020.
Work is ongoing in relation to the design of the RDP and it is intended to submit the Programme to the EU Commission at the end of June, 2014.
Minister Coveney said: “The new Rural Development Programme will be a vital support to Rural Ireland in terms of enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, managing natural resources in a sustainable manner, and ensuring the balanced development of rural areas.”
Minister for Agriculte Simon Coveney along with on left Tom Hayes T.D. – Minister for Horticulture, Forestry, Food Safety and the Greyhound Industry and Brian Hayes TD Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the OPW as they get to grips with Buttercup
The Minister outlined the main provisions of the RDP schemes as follows:
GLAS (total allocation of €1,450m over the lifetime of the RDP)
- The new Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) will provide for a maximum payment of €5,000 for up to 50,000 farmers. It is anticipated that some 25,000-30,000 farmers will be accepted into the Scheme in 2015. The targeted structure of the Scheme has been refined following the recent public consultation, and it is expected that this Scheme will deliver substantial, biodiversity, climate change, and other environmental benefits (see Annex 1 for the outline of the GLAS structure).
- In addition to the basic GLAS, farmers who take on particularly challenging environmental actions may qualify for a top up payment of up to €2,000 per annum under GLAS+. Initially, this payment will be targeted at farmers who have to undertake a high number of mandatory actions under the Tier 1 Priority Environmental Assets and Actions, but other options for GLAS+ will be explored over the course of the RDP.
Areas of Natural Constraint inc. Island Farmers (€1,370m)
- It has been decided to continue with the current levels and structure of payments under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme (formerly known as the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme), pending the reassessment of the areas covered by the Scheme on the basis of new biophysical criteria which must be in place by 2018.
- However, it is also proposed to add a top up payment for a separate category of Island Farmers within the structure of the ANC Scheme. This top up will compensate for the particular challenges faced by Island Farmers. Work is ongoing in relation to setting the rate for this top up payment.
On Farm Captital Investment (€395m)
- In relation to On Farm Capital Investment, the allocation for the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II has been increased significantly to €395m. This is an increase of €100m over the allocation proposed in the original RDP consultation document of January. It is intended that support for investments in dairy equipment, beef and sheep handling equipment, pigs and poultry, slurry on tillage farms, and low emissions spreading equipment will be prioritised in terms of the timing of scheme launches. Young farmers will also be eligible for a preferential rate of 60% grant aid.
Locally Led Agri-Environment Schemes (€70m)
- The allocation for locally led targeted Agri-Environment Schemes has also been significantly increased to €70m over the lifetime of the RDP. This allocation will fund two flagship schemes – namely an expansion of the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme and new projects in Freshwater Pearl Mussel Catchment areas. A number of further local targeted projects will also be identified for funding.
Organic Farming (€44m)
- Following on from the recent consultation process, a significantly increased budget of €44m is being allocated to the Organic Farming Scheme in order to support growth in the sector more effectively. In addition, a dedicated Capital Investment Scheme for the organic sector will be included in TAMS II.
Support for collaborative farming (€3m)
- Support for approved collaborative approaches to farming has also increased following the consultation process. This support will assist with set up costs for farmers entering into new collaborative models, and will aim to support 1,200 new collaborative ventures.
Beef Data and Genomics Programme (€295m)
- The new Beef Data and Genomics Programme has been further developed to build on the strong link between the sustainability of Irish beef production and maximising the contribution of Irish agriculture to national climate change initiatives. This highly innovative programme will provide support to farmers to take samples for genotyping from selected animals in their herds and to provide vital breeding data to support the development of a national cattle breeding databank. This data will provide farmers with the tools to select higher quality and more efficient breeding replacements through the use of cutting edge genomic technology. The selection of more efficient animals with the right genetics for easy calving and high weight gain thereafter, that can be finished earlier, will have a substantial environmental dividend and will also contribute to improving productivity, reducing input costs and improving margins for farmers. I expect to be able to announce further details on this scheme over the coming weeks.
Knowledge Transfer Measures (€112m)
A suite of knowledge transfer measures will underpin the success of the new RDP, and will consist of support for Knowledge Transfer Groups across a number of sectors (including beef, sheep, dairy, pigs/poultry and equine), support for European Innovation Partnership Operational Groups, Continuous Professional Development for advisors, and targeted on farm advice in relation to key animal health and welfare issues.
In addition to the above, I have asked officials in my Department to examine the possibility of two further possible supports, namely:
- introducing small but innovative measures to support producers of honey and apples in the context of the high levels of local market opportunities in those sectors, and
- support for encouraging the restoration of traditional farm buildings, which form an important part of our rural heritage.
Further detailed information is available on the Department’s website. This information sets out a number of draft chapters of the new RDP outlining the measure descriptions as well as some of the preparatory analysis underlying the design of the RDP. This information will form the basis of the consultation phase of the current Strategic Environmental Analysis which will commence later this week. Following this consultation process, it is expected to submit a draft of the RDP to the European Commission by the end of June, 2014.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 13/05/2014)