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.

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