A few of us are involved in a little project looking at the potential for a results based approach to future agri-environment schemes in Northern Ireland. This would be a bit different to previous schemes here, such as EFS, which have largely been action based.
A good example of a results based approach has been tested in the west of Ireland, through the Peal Mussel Project.
In the Pearl Mussel Project land was scored for habitat quality and farmers received payments based on their habitat score and supporting payments for actions to improve habitat quality on their farm.
As part of the project we are looking to design a pilot scheme focused on improving water quality. We would be interested to hear peoples ideas and thoughts on how a pilot of a results based approach could work in Northern Ireland. What would encourage you to get your farm involved in such an approach and what would be off-putting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. All ideas very welcome!
Do you think we could approach this sort of scheme using self assessment? Much the same as our taxes. We do our own scoring using a plant identification app Dept does random checks with big penalties if you are trying to cheat the system.
Do you think we could approach this sort of scheme using self assessment? Much the same as our taxes. We do our own scoring using a plant identification app Dept does random checks with big penalties if you are trying to cheat the system.
Hi Will, I love the idea of a results based approach, capturing the biodiversity and habitat on farmland. I feel it would even up those farms that have land of marginal quality with the highly productive land. As you are aware, less intensively farmed and marginal land tend to be extremely bio diverse and have habitats specific to certain species.
Anything that retains the cultural identity of small farms in Northern Ireland has to be a win.
On the subject of water quality, how about a government scheme to encourage the construction of reed beds to filter on farm water before it enters the watercourse. Several really good examples of such systems have been built by local farmers in County Down and are proving that they work extremely efficiently as well as creating a new wildlife habitat on the farm . Yet another win !
We have plans to put in place such reed beds, but again, self financing such projects is a slow roller.
I have a few fields banking the Ballinderry river, right now there is a good variety of flowers popping up. I’d love an app or website dedicated to helping me identify if these plants are good indicators of river health. I could then figure out if I was on the right track to creating the right habitat. If I could add photos to prove what’s there at different times of the year that might be useful in proving my habitat quality. I’m guessing as things change through the seasons the score might vary at different times if the year. A payment for the quality of my habitat sounds fair. However I worry if the farmers upstream are damaging the river and I can’t seem to create or upkeep my area that would be unfair. I don’t have the answer for getting around that! Ideally if farmers could group together to look after the river and create high scoring habitats we would all receive higher payments. Clusters will take work to pull together but could have the biggest impact and hopefully financially rewarded as such.
Think this seems a great idea to enhance and protect our water courses.