Rural Development Council Update September 2021

TAMS

• TAMS Tranche 22 closed for application on July 23rd with a further 2,000 applications received by DAFM.
• Approvals under Tranche 22 have not been issued at the time of writing but it is expected that they will be issued in the next week or so. IFA is insisting that there must be no further delay in approvals for tranche 22 as to date the process is too slow.
• TAMS costings review was completed in July.  All the reference costs under TAMS II have been fully reviewed. The costs will be increased in the case of own labour and in the case of 62 investment items, with increases ranging from 5-40%.
• DAFM carried out this costings review, and the changes will be implemented from the opening of TAMS tranche 23, which commenced on July 24th.
• Materials such as steel, timber and concrete have seen steep increases this year, up to 40% in some cases and IFA have called on the Minister for Agriculture to include all tranche 22 applicants in the review. To not do so will put them at a substantial financial disadvantage. 
• To keep pace with rising costs, this review needs to be repeated, and the findings be ready for implementation for the opening of TAMS tranche 24, which is due to open in November 2021
• Tranche 23 is open for applications, and is due to close November 5th 2021
• So far in TAMS 43,548 approvals for TAMS have been issued. 
• Payments of €292m have been paid out to 22,042 farmers to date. A further 1,150 farmers have lodged payment claims.
• The revised TAMS Budget to include the CAP Transitional period of 2021 and 2022 is €523.81m
• When the carryover allocation from TAMS 1 is taken into account, €304m has been spent out of the RDP allocation of €523.81m.

2021 BPS/ANC Schemes

• At closing date for BPS 15^th May around 129,000 farmers had made application. 
• IFA dealt with a number of queries from farmers who had issues with making application with the Dept.  These were all resolved with the Dept.
• IFA will be insisting that maximum flexibility will be sought in the current circumstances to ensure all payments are made. 
• IFA will be demanding that there is a maximum pay-out to all farmers of the 70% in advance of 16^th October. The balancing 30% will be paid out first week in Dec.
• There are no changes to the ANC Scheme for 2021. 
• ANC payments will commence in the third week in Sept with a 85% pay-out. The remaining 25% will be paid out in early Dec.
• ANC payments are worth €250m to nearly 100,000 farmers.

GLAS 

• At the end of 2020, 36,000 farmers completed their GLAS 1 & 2 contracts and were given the option to extend their contract to include 2021. At the end of 2021 a further 12,000 farmers participating in GLAS 3 will finish their contracts. It is vitally important that all GLAS participants are given the option to extend their contracts for 2022.
• At this stage 47,260 farmer have got their full 2020 payment. The total amount paid out under GLAS for 2020 is €200.5m.
• The remaining farmers are being paid as problems are being resolved.
• 2021 advance GLAS payments are expected to be paid in Nov

REAP

Farm Environment Survey pilot

• It is anticipated that the Farm Environmental Study (FES) will generate a database of baseline habitat and biodiversity data at the farm level and will provide the scope for an analysis of farm habitats and biodiversity and a baseline for future targeting of agri-environmental schemes and measures. 
• The Pilot Stage of FES will be carried out on approximately 8000 farms.  
• The Pilot FES will provide the farmer with an inventory of habitats, biodiversity and environmental information about his/her own farm.
• Farmers will receive €200 for participation.
• It is expected to be open for applications in October 2021. 
• Farm surveys will likely begin Quarter 2 in 2022.

Soil Sampling Programme

• A soil sampling and analysis programme to develop a national baseline of soil parameters and soil health indicators was launched by the DAFM in June.
• The incentive for farmers is to receive comprehensive soil analysis reports with next generation data which, with advisory support will be used as a soil management tool on the farm. 
• Total budget of €10m
• To be open to all farmers for soil sample testing which will be taken by an advisor and tested in a lab at no cost to the farmer.
• Due to open for applications in Sept 2021

CAP

• The rural development committee participated in the preparation of IFA’s submission on the Proposed Interventions in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027
• IFA rural development committee is engaging with COPA and the EU commission on various aspects of CAP.
• Ongoing dialogue with the Department of Agriculture