600 farmers wanted for EU-funded water quality pilot
For For Eu Deadline Life Quality Programme Funded Water Approaching
Up to 600 Irish farmers will be paid up to €2,000/ha as part of a new Waters of LIFE agri-environmental programme to improve water quality.
Six sub-catchments have been chosen for the project: Avonmore, Co Wicklow; Awbeg (Kilbrin), Co Cork; Graney, Co Clare; Sheen, Co Kerry; Islands, which straddles Co Galway and Co Roscommon border; Shournagh, Co Cork.
The programme focuses on greater outcomes for water quality under Ireland’s river basin management plan. The programme will begin in early 2025 and will run for three years. It will start with paid training and farm visits in the spring, with habitat scoring to take place over the summer.
Participants will be paid up to €2,000/ha per year for a riverside habitat. It applies to a 10/10 score for a fenced or uncultivated strip on improved grassland or tillage plot. The maximum width is 20m.
Those who don’t have river frontage can be paid up to €400/ha for species-rich grassland, woodland and peatland. A riverside bonus of up to €3.20/m for a 10/10 plot is also available.
Actions include run-off risk assessments, nutrient management planning and nutrient surplus recording. Farmers can also be paid for supporting measures, such as fencing, livestock drinking facilities, riverside tree planting, spatially targeted buffers, drain blocking, minimum tillage and catch crops.
Waters of LIFE project manager Anne Goggin said: “We’ve been actively engaged with the community in recent months through consultations and public meetings. It was really encouraging to see how many farmers came through the door and uptake on the programme so far has been good.
“You don’t need river frontage to be a part of this programme. We want all farmers in our sub-catchments to play their part and be rewarded for making a difference to local water quality."
IFA Environment chairman John Murphy said: “Farmers in these sub-catchments should give serious consideration to submitting an expression of interest. An expression of interest does not commit you to participating in the programme, nor does it guarantee entry”.
The deadline to express interest is November 30.
