Application to Waters of LIFE Programme close on Sunday

GALWAY farmers have up until this Sunday August 31 to submit their application for Year 2 of the Waters of LIFE Programme.

The Waters of LIFE is an EU funded agri-environmental programme that rewards farmers for protecting and improving water quality.

Entry is open to farmers with a herd or tillage number in any of the five Waters of LIFE demonstration sub-catchments, with the Islands sub-catchment including areas around Williamstown and Ballymoe in Galway as well as Granlahan and Ballinlough in Roscommon.

Farmers receive results-based payments as well as payments for general and supporting actions. Current participants have already received payments for training and knowledge transfer events.

The programme includes a new riverside habitat scorecard for farmers with river frontage. It offers payments of €2000 a hectare on a 10/10 habitat score for a fenced or uncultivated strip along the river in areas of improved grassland and tillage, up to a maximum width of 20 meters.

Eligible farmers without river frontage are also welcome to enter the programme to receive payments for other habitats and actions.

“Lads in these parts of Galway and Roscommon are really tuned into what we’re trying to do,” stated John Kelly, the Waters of LIFE scientist for the islands catchment area.

“They want to do the right thing; we want to make it worth their while. The engagement on the ground has been excellent and with the payments system up and running, we’re starting to see results. But there’s room for more. I’d ask anyone who’s interested in the programme to give me a call,” he concluded.

Over 100 farmers in the Islands sub-catchment have already started working with the Waters of LIFE programme in the past six months, with many more expected to get involved in Year 2 of the project.

For more information on how to apply farmers can visit the Waters of LIFE website or can contact John Kelly at 086-2013578.