The Irish Farmers Association have said eligible farmers should apply for the Waters of LIFE agri-environment programme.

IFA Environment Chair John Murphy is reminding farmers to express their interest in the Avonmore (Wicklow), Awbeg (Cork), Graney (Clare / Galway), Islands (Galway / Roscommon) and Shournagh Sub-Catchments.

“This is an opportunity for farmers in eligible catchments to apply for funding for actions on their farms,” he told the Irish Farmers Association website.

“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.

“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.

Up to 600 farmers are being invited into the Waters of LIFE agri-environmental programme for water quality.

Only five sub-catchments in the country are eligible for the pilot including the Awbeg (Kilbrin) and the Shournagh. The Graney covers Clare, the Islands is in Galway and Roscommon while the Avonmore is in Wicklow.

Farmers can express their interest online before the deadline of November 30th or by contacting their local catchment scientist of advisor. There is no up-front commitment and the project will make contact with each farmer to discuss what they could expect to earn through the programme.

The programme focuses on greater outcomes for water quality under Ireland’s river basin management plan. It commences in early 2025 and will run for three years.

Waters of LIFE has introduced a payment rate of up to €2000 per hectare 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.

Farmers who don’t have river frontage can be paid up to €400 per hectare for species-rich grassland, woodland and peatland. A riverside bonus of up to €3.20 per metre for a 10/10 plot is also paid out on these habitats.

All participating farmers can also receive payment through general actions, supporting actions and training.

General actions include runoff risk assessment, nutrient management planning and nutrient surplus recording. Farmers can also be paid for supporting actions including fencing, livestock drinking facilities, riverside tree planting, spatially targeted buffers, drain blocking, minimum tillage and catch crops.

Farmers can express their interest and view a detailed information booklet for the programme at www.watersoflife.ie/eoi.