Forestry & other Farm Schemes
Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)
- Landowners can plant forestry and continue to draw Basic Payment Entitlements. This is provided that the land being planted was declared on a single farm payment application in 2008
- Planted land must be declared on the BPS application form each year
- The requirement to retain min 3.0 HA or 10% of the total farm no longer applies from 2021.
- SWS Forestry Services will provide a map of the area planted to complete the Single Farm Payment application
GLAS (Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme)
- Payments under this scheme are no longer entirely area based but based on payment for environmental options undertaken on a farm level
- Landowners can structure forestry planting with this scheme and maximize total direct payments from both GLAS and Forestry
- Carefully planned forestry planting will also provide stock proof boundaries and a future fuel supply.
Area of Natural Constraint Scheme
- Planted lands do not qualify for ANC Payments, however a landowner can increase net income by planting as forestry premiums are significantly higher. As ANC payment area is subject to a maximum of 34 Hectares, any surplus land could be planted without affecting overall ANC payment.
ANC payment rates:
- Category 1 Land: €148 on the first 12 eligible hectares or part thereof, and €112 per hectare on remaining hectares up to a maximum of 34 hectares.
- Category 2 Land: €111 on the first 10 eligible hectares or part thereof, and €104 per hectare on remaining hectares up to a maximum of 30 hectares.
- Category 3 Land: €93 on the first 8 eligible hectares or part thereof, and €88.25 per hectare on remaining hectares up to a maximum of 30 hectares.
- Areas of Specific Constraints (Island Farming): €250 on the first 20 eligible hectares or part thereof, €170 on greater than 20 hectares to less than or equal to 34 hectares and €70.00 on greater than 34 hectares or less than or equal to 40 hectares.
Applicants should consult with their Agri Advisor / Farm Planner in relation to any queries specific to other Farm Schemes.