ACRES NPIs has opened this week for new applications

This year, the NPIs application system opened earlier than 2024, with Minister Heydon, saying that this would farmers some extra time to discussion applications with their advisors/consultants.

The applications portal opened on Tuesday last, August 5, for those in ACRES Co-operation high-priority geographical areas such as the Conamara region – a specific NPI application window opens each year.

Minister Heydon said this week that there are a wide range of complementary environmental actions which an ACRES Co-operation farmer may avail of under this element of ACRES.

“With the NPI application window opening this week for 2025, I encourage all ACRES Co-operation participants to engage with their ACRES advisor to discuss the way in which their land could be enhanced through the implementation of an NPI.

“This is an opportunity for those farmers  to increase the environmental standard of their land and thereby attract a higher rate of payment through the resultant increase in the scoring of that land,” said the Minister.

Applications, in the form of NPI Annual Work plans, are prepared and submitted by ACRES advisors on behalf of ACRES Co-operation participants – the deadline for the submission of 2025 applications is Friday, October 17 next.

According to the Dept. of Agriculture, NPI applications were submitted on behalf of 4,800 ACRES farmers in 2024, an increase on the 2023 numbers.

The Department have stated that some of those 2023/2024 NPIs have now been implemented with approved payments following in due course.

The ACRES General Scheme is available nationally to farmers outside of the high-priority geographical areas offering a wide range of options – both ‘prescription’ and ‘results’ based.

Since it came into being in  2023, the ACRES scheme has been criticised by the main farming organisations for the delays in payments – the scheme is due to run until 2027, inclusive.

Pictured: Minister Heydon: NPIs opening earlier this year.