Eligible Farmers Should Apply for Waters for Life Pilot Agri-Environmental Programme
IFA Environment Chair John Murphy is reminding farmers that the closing day for expressions of interest for the pilot agri-environmental programme in the Waters for Life project is next Sat, Nov 30th.
“This is an opportunity for farmers in eligible catchments to apply for funding for actions on their farms,” he said.
The Waters of LIFE is an EU LIFE Integrated Project (IP) which aims to help restore our most pristine waters. Six sub catchments have been chosen as demonstration catchments for the project. They are:
- 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.
“Funding is available to farmers in these sub catchments under the pilot agri-environmental programme. It is an action and knowledge transfer-based payments scheme that is designed to reward farmers for protecting and improving water quality,” he said.
Some general actions that are supported under the pilot programme include runoff risk assessment; nutrient management planning; nutrient surplus recording; and catch crops.
There is also support available for fencing; livestock drinking facilities; riverside tree planting; spatially-targeted buffers; and drain blocking.
“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”.
He emphasised that participation in the programme is completely voluntary. If accepted, it is up to the farmer to decide on the actions they want to implement and how they manage their farm.
For more information on the Pilot Agri-Environmental Programme, click here.
