Farmers could face ‘more regulations’ under proposed Eco Scheme changes
The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) has revealed proposed changes to the Eco-Scheme's ‘Space for Nature’.
The Space for Nature option supports and rewards farmers for biodiversity actions.
But according to DAFM from scheme year 2026 there are potentially new changes in the pipeline.
As a result of these changes the percentage on some herds would be different because landscape features located adjacent to artificial or man-made features within an eligible hectare would "no longer receive credit in terms of Space for Nature."
Instead according to DAFM a "zero value will be applied and visible (white line) on Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) maps to indicate where features, for example hedgerow, trees, stonewalls on a LIPS parcel are adjacent to farmyard, recreational areas, buildings etc".
Previously before these proposed changes farmers had received credit on these areas.
Eco-Scheme 2026
As a result of the proposals farmers would have two options in relation to the Eco-Scheme for 2026 and these include:
- To map additional exisiting features, where needed on their farm when applying for Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) 2026 - which are currently not mapped and which may contribute to Space for Nature;
- To choose one of the alternative agricultural practices within the Eco-Scheme - such as the extensive livestock production option if a farm is stocked between 0.1 and 1.2 LU/ha.
ICMSA
According to the The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) the proposed changes to the ECO scheme 2026 – ‘Space for Nature’ option "just means more regulations on farmers".
Eamon Carroll, deputy president of the ICMSA, told Agriland that it is “inexplicable” that features that were eligible for the scheme in 2023-2025 are to be considered to "no longer contain nature and have to be excluded".
“Whoever decided this should be asked to explain their position publicly and detail why, for instance, hedgerows are excluded?
"We describe the decision as absolutely ridiculous and illogical – but that’s to understate the matter.
"It’s beyond that, it shows a level of indifference that borders on contempt. This just means more regulations on farmers and more hassle for farmers and their advisors for a meaningless measure that will deliver zero for nature”, Carroll said.
The deputy president of the ICMSA also questioned today (Tuesday, Janaury 20) how the proposed changes to the ECO Scheme 2026 align with the European Commission's "simplification agenda".
“The simplification agenda was revealed as a joke a good while ago.
"But anyone who still hadn’t got the joke will certainly understand it now after this latest minor farce.
"I’d ask whether similar rules will apply to Mercusor countries, but what’s the point when we all know the answer?"Carroll said.
He has urged the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, to intervene in relation to the proposed changes to the Eco Scheme.
Carroll believes that "everything that is wrong with the attitude of officialdom to farmers and the way they regard our time and effort and expense as unimportant and of no account" is reflected in this proposed change.
Latest figures show that last week DAFM paid a further €430,861 out for the 2025 Eco Scheme bringing the overall total to over €297 million to 115,651 farmers.
