Applications For ACRES Rare Breeds Action Now Available Online

The conservation of rare breeds action under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) can now be applied for online.

There was a paper-based application process for the completion and submission of the annual declaration for the conservation of rare breeds action under previous departmental agri environment schemes (including GLAS).

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) now wishes to advise that the annual declaration for the conservation of rare breeds action, under ACRES, may now be completed on an online portal (‘Rare Breed portal’) on the AgFood system.

The declaration may be completed by the ACRES advisor acting for an ACRES participant, or by the participant themselves.

If advisors are going to be completing it on behalf of their client, the conservation of rare breeds return, in respect of rare breed numbers for 2023, is now available on the AgFood account to complete for the relevant business ID(s) who were approved into ACRES with this action and to whom they are linked.

The department is also sending a text message to all ACRES participants who have the conservation of rare breeds action approved as part of their ACRES Tranche 1 contract to advise them that the ‘Rare Breeds’ portal is now available and to discuss with their advisor if necessary.

Details declared on the ‘Rare Breeds’ portal will be in respect of rare breeds numbers in 2023 and will form part of the 2024 scheme year ACRES payment.

The closing date for the completion of the information on the AgFood portal in respect of the conservation of rare breeds action is November 15, 2024.

Advisors and participants are encouraged to complete applications as early as possible.

For ACRES Tranche 1 participants with an approved conservation of rare breed action, advance
payments for 2024 cannot be progressed until the rare breed information is submitted and complete.

Payment will be made in arrears based on the monthly average livestock units of owned registered animals over the previous recording year.

Documents required for payment:

1. Proof of membership with relevant breed society;
2. Identification documents and certificates issued by the relevant breed society for each registered animal;
3. Complete rare breeds annual record declaration.

Participants/advisors are reminded that to be eligible for the conservation of rare breeds action, participants must have at least 0.10 LU eligible for payment each year.

(Source – Agriland – Colm Ryan – 25/09/2024)