ACRES - The Shambles. Have you been paid??

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122518320#Comment_122518320

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122518788#Comment_122518788

I would be opposite thinking. Quiet a number have pulled out or on the verge of pulling out. DAFM have to make sure this is some sort of a success and the only way is to have numbers in it.

Year 1 was always going to be a minefield in the set up of the scheme, but bottle necks were going to appear around scoring and some of the NPIs. I really feel for the farmers tied up with scoring and NPIs.

dominatinMC

Cheers folks. There are rumours going around that there will be a new tranche announced closer to the budget, or election, depending on who you talk to! But given the way they have handled the scheme so far, I'm not sure what kind of boost they can expect from this

Sacrolyte

hello there. Just got scorecards there. One in the 50s one in the 60s and one in the 80s. I’ve no idea if this is any good. What ever does this mean.

50HX

Got an acres payment of 5k in Feb

It was showing in amounts owed all summer to be paid back

Seems to be sorted today

1078 paid into the account

CP overall payment 6178

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549825#Comment_122549825

Just got mine too, marks seem to be out of 100 so yours seem to be fairly good. Mine range from 35 to 70 but mostly around 45. In comment section seem to acknowledge good species rich grassland but to control "encroaching scrub" as they call it. Now my hedges are thick at the bottom with some briar patches which I consider good for nature but they seem to want a neat and tidy approach. This was scored by my advisor who maybe coming from a more intensive view of farming. Basically I could improve my score by getting in a digger and bash anything out from bare hedge. Its a bit like banning of burning of bushes will see an increase of flailing hedges rather than laying or cutting ( which is how they came to be as they are in the first place)

amacca

Please tell me you are not losing money in an environmental scheme for having nature friendly features which encourage biodiversity etc

Ffs if that's the case you couldn't make it up

I thought they wanted hedges etc.....

Durrus Boy

Anybody here in both ACRES and the Organic scheme?

My dad received his 2023 balancing payment last week which left him with the full max. annual payment of €7k.

However, he is also in the Organic scheme and as far as I was aware would only receive a reduced payment per Ha. Field scores were reasonably good but by my calculations max he should have received is c. €2k!!

Am I missing something or did Dept. make another Acres boo-boo??!!

Packrat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122578427#Comment_122578427

Commonage which isn't being paid for in Organic? That's how I got the max Acres as well as Organic. (Co-op here, but I don't think that made any difference)

Durrus Boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122579016#Comment_122579016

Yeah, Co-op here too ( but it doesn't make a difference) All owned land, no commonage.

Wouldn't be the first time they've made a mistake I'm thinking!!😁

Seriously though, if it is a mistake, we just want to be prepared and not go mad spending it all!!🤣🤣

massey 265

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122578427#Comment_122578427

Im organic and in acres general and had linear measures in acres scheme so this area of less than a hectare was deducted from my organic scheme payment this year and will be for rest of duration of acres scheme. The deduction if any applies will be taken out of organic payment not the acres payment if in both schemes is my take on it.Its your fathers organic payment that the financial deduction should have taken place in the case of area based actions been chosen in acres.T

Tileman

walking through wbc yesterday and it was full of butterflies . Was a lovely walk through it actually. Almost felt worthwhile.

irishguy19772

In CP area. Got text today about rare breeds. To apply on agfood. Logged on there but couldn't see any option to apply.

kollegeknight

I got some rejections on the NPIs- I’ve a river/stream and some stretches were accepted for reparian zone and others not.

My Advisor is querying.

I don’t think they are worth it because I will only get paid one year for it because of being in a CP zone.

He was saying he wasn’t certain if it was worth the hassle.

I could spend thousands fencing and be left months/a year waiting for payment.

irishguy19772

Still waiting to hear about the NPIs. Did you advisor let you know or on agfood?

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122638122#Comment_122638122

I was into my advisor yesterday in relation to this, Had to bring passport books for Connemara breeding pony's, upto 10 as that's the max they will pay for, he had to scan, copy and stamp the copy's before uploading them onto the dept system and also needed proof of membership for 2023 to the breed society. Some load of messing for both the advisories and clients,

he was saying the Dexter's are a nightmare as some lads have big numbers and each animal has to be uploaded individually .

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699187#Comment_122699187

I was at an NPI meeting- they were pushing the new round saying applications were low.

I just said how can we apply when we didn’t hear on the first round.

so I rang my advisor and he went chasing and said it was refused in some spots and accepted in others but not to act until written acceptance.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699391#Comment_122699391

I got text to apply for 2023. Looked online. Only option is for 2024. I filled in 2023 numbers and uploaded passports. One animal is gone so I was glad I had a scan of that passport. Some mess of a platform. I haven’t submitted yet.

lmk123

did anyone here apply for fencing under the NPI’s? Did someone from the Acres team actually go out and inspect each area where you proposed to do the fencing ?

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699763#Comment_122699763

I only have the two breading mares, I could upload the young mare myself but would not let me upload an older mare. Both were for last yr 2023, then the advisor just sticks in the same number I was trying to upload and low and behold it just accepts it.

I can't understand 2 yrs down the rd at this stage into the scheme there is still loads of issues, it's baffling

fits

my soil samples were taken in 2022 but could only put a 2023 date on them as well.

Stationmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699759#Comment_122699759

Can we see on agfoods what actions have been approved and what haven't do you know?

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710256#Comment_122710256

Was at a KT meeting this evening and advisor said that 2023 npi actions would more then likely not be approved till jan25

Stationmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710332#Comment_122710332

Fecks sake. And the action plans for next year have to be in by the end of this month?! Some system….

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710256#Comment_122710256

definitely not on CP zones. But your advisor can see what will be accepted.

dominatinMC

Lads, I'm not in ACRES but I'm hoping for tranche 3 and get in then. But I'm beginning to wonder, based on the experiences here, if it's more hassle than it's worth?

bt12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699104#Comment_122699104

in cp zone too, applied for raparian zones as there is a river going through my land plus some along some drains aswell,my Teagasc tells me it all got rejected because I’m in swan and geese area, make sense of that!!

Bleating Lamb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699104#Comment_122699104

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699104#Comment_122699104

Am in a CP Zone,have yet to apply for any NPI measures as wanted to see how it was being handled in first year.

I understood that you had the duration of your contract to choose to apply for NPI measures or not,so what do you mean when you say that they are not worth it as you only get paid for 1 year on NPI’s as you are in a CP Zone?

Thanks for any replies.

massey 265

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710824#Comment_122710824

As far as i can see if ur applying for the acres general and avoid the scoring actions its pretty straight forward .The acres co op seems to be causing the most problems for lads but if you happen to be in the co op area then your obliged to go this option which seems unfair.A well informed planner is a good start but u can check out all the options on dept acres website before hand and decide what suits your farm .Like most schemes it suits some lads and not others.

lmk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710824#Comment_122710824

I got in tranche 2 this year in a CP zone. I obviously haven’t got any money yet or any NPI’s approved but I think it’s well worth it. If you have any poor / rushy ground and don’t go mad on fert & spray it’ll suit you, the NPI money looks alright too, if you have a lot of fencing to do you can get around €2200 / year towards it. Go into Acres Ireland Actions Explorer to see if any of the NPI’s will suit you. The first year will probably cost you the most of €1k to get set up with the advisor, it’s a rip off in my opinion but what can you do.

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710845#Comment_122710845

Was at meeting about NPIs and they were saying to "over apply" for these now because I got impression there might not be a chance to apply in year 5 of scheme ( because ACRES would be over by the time you got approved and measures done). By applying for more also covers you if some are rejected.

If you have other parcels not in CP areas there are options for NPIs on them

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122710845#Comment_122710845

From what I understand There are NPIs that if your were in the general acres, you would get paid each year. Cp zones are only for one year.

I’m my case the riparian zones would be worth applying for if it was 5 years of payment.

MIKEKC

Including fencing is a waste as you can get fencing grant under tams.Spec a little higher under tams I think but you have a better job

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122712602#Comment_122712602

I asked that of my advisor and he said I would fair out better claiming if from acres.

But I don’t know

lmk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122712768#Comment_122712768

have a look at the spec and see for yourself, I personally think it’s insane and wouldn’t have any need for it but horses for courses. There was a lad on here a few months ago looking for GPS collars for his cattle so he could find them, he’d probably need a TAMS approved fence alright.

kollegeknight

I never really looked into tams.

I must check it out.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122712439#Comment_122712439

The rate per year is less in those cases if in ACRES general

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122713515#Comment_122713515

I can’t seem to find a different list or rates on NPIs.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122713992#Comment_122713992

See page 4 & 5

file:///C:/Users/Win_User/Downloads/272782_897c6265-fbe0-4bbc-b2e2-37d28cd36fce.pdf

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122717087#Comment_122717087

sorry- that isn’t working for me

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122719741#Comment_122719741

Google search "overview of non productive investments for ACRES co-operation approach October 2023"

It will offer a pdf file showing the info on page 4 & 5.

kollegeknight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122719803#Comment_122719803

great thank you.

Bleating Lamb

Am based in a CP Zone area……………Due to work committments I haven't been able to attend either the recent advisory meetings explaining about the Commonage scores or the ones outlining how to apply for NPI's if in a CP zone.

If any people were at these recent meetings were they useful to learn relevant things…….or if you just went to your own advisor(mine is with Teagasc)……would they be familiar enough with the schemes to do up an application if going in for some NPI measures before the end of 0ctober deadline?

Thanks for any replies on this.

PoorFarmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122721439#Comment_122721439

What CP zone are you in? I was at an NPI meeting for the Stacks Mountains lately and the speakers more or less said that they are happy to be contacted if you want further information from them and would go as far as organising a visit to the farm.

Would be well worth your while getting in contact with whoever is over your CP zone.

Advisor should be well capable but not all advisors are equal.

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122721439#Comment_122721439

The NPI meetings only told you on possible actions you can apply for. This must be all done through your advisor. The NPI’s are the same as those discussed last year. Just remember anyone who applied for NPI’s last year are still waiting approval.

MIKEKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122712768#Comment_122712768

IIt would appear that your advisor didnt give you the reason. The only reason I can think of is you needed to draw other grants under tams that brought you close to the limit. My acres advisor said the spec is higher for tams. But higher spec means a better fence.Its a job you hope will last minimum 15 years.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122723145#Comment_122723145

No Spec as such for acres but must be fit for purpose and consist of all new materials.

50HX

Advisor tells me NPI's have been approved but not to act until written confirmation received....early Dec🙄

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122724164#Comment_122724164

bit of a joke, that’ll be 1 full and half of the second planting season lost since NPI’s were submitted. Hopefully the payments come fast after the actions are done

PoorFarmer

Any word yet on when Tranche 2 payments might happen?

Tileman

end of November it’s expected