It's a €1.5 billion scheme for up to 50,000 farm families, under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023 to 2027. A FAS-approved ACRES adviser prepares your plan.
Quick facts
- ACRES General
- Up to €7,311 a year
- ACRES Co-operation
- Up to €10,500 a year
- Co-op results payment
- Up to €7,000
- Co-op NPIs and landscape
- Up to €3,500
- Top field score (Co-op)
- €400 a hectare
- Helpdesk
- 053 916 3425
General or Co-operation
"General: available nationally (outside of the high priority geographical area defined for the ACRES Co-operation approach) and offers a range of actions for individual farmers, both targeted and general."
"Co-operation: available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas, and involves results-based payments as well as bespoke farm and landscape actions." A local Co-operation Project team supports farmers in each zone.
What it pays
"ACRES General offers a maximum of €7,311 a year." "Co-operation offers a maximum of €10,500 a year with a maximum results-based payment of €7,000 with an extra non-productive investment and landscape maximum of €3,500."
In Co-operation, grassland, peatland and scrub are paid by field score: "Field Score 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 <4 Payment Rate €400 €350 €300 €250 €205 €175 €150 €0" a hectare. General actions have fixed rates, for example a "Winter bird food plot 1,000" euro a hectare. "Participants may apply for a late meadow bonus payment of €50/ha".
How it works
Entry runs in tranches through an approved ACRES adviser, who draws up your plan and submits it. Payments depend on completing the actions, and on scorecards in results-based areas, so management through the year matters. Check the Department's Scheme Payments Update page for payment dates.
Common questions
How much does ACRES pay?
Up to €7,311 a year in ACRES General, and up to €10,500 a year in ACRES Co-operation, including up to €3,500 for non-productive investments and landscape actions.
What is the difference between ACRES General and Co-operation?
General is available nationally with a choice of actions. Co-operation is in high-priority areas and pays mainly on results-based scorecards.
How are ACRES Co-operation payments worked out?
By field scores: from €400 a hectare for a score of 10 down to €150 for a score of 4, and nothing below 4.
Who do I contact about ACRES?
The ACRES helpdesk at Johnstown Castle, Wexford: acres@agriculture.gov.ie or 053 916 3425.