The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has today (Friday, February 27) called on the government to extend the current hedge-cutting open period.

According to the FCI high rainfall has left many fields inaccessible and using operating hedge-cutting machinery in these conditions “risks serious surface and structural soil damage”.

The national body for farm contractors said it recognises the “importance of adhering to environmental and wildlife protection regulations”.

But it also believes that given the "exceptional and prolonged saturation of land" caused by recent rainfall, a limited and carefully defined extension for flail hedge maintenance only, until March 17, 2026, is “both reasonable and necessary”.

FCI has proposed that the statutory closed period from March 1 to August 31 would remain unchanged “in respect of mulching and saw-type hedge maintenance”.

Met Éireann

The national body has pointed to latest Met Éireann which it said shows that "total rainfall between October and December 2025 amounted to 372.4mm" and "from January 1 to February 24, 2026, a further 318.1mm was recorded".

According to FCI sustained levels of rainfall have “significantly hampered essential hedge maintenance activities required for health and safety purposes, crop preparation, and the stock-proofing of lands”.

Survey

FCI has done a survey of its members to judge the extent of outstanding work around the country and it found that:

25% of contractors reported approximately one-quarter of their customers have outstanding hedge maintenance requirements;
A further 25% reported approximately half of their customers still require necessary hedge maintenance.

FCI said these findings indicate that a "substantial proportion of farmers and landowners still require essential hedge maintenance to be completed".

Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, FCI managing director said: “One of the greatest long-term threats to hedgerows and their biodiversity is the lack of regular, appropriate management.

“The extension sought by FCI is limited to routine annual hedge maintenance only, which supports secure stock-proof boundaries, protects biodiversity in Irish hedgerows and improves public and road safety.”