Non-Productive Investments
Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) are actions which you, an ACRES CP farmer can apply to undertake through your farm advisor and get paid for actions which you complete. ​​​​
Click on the heading below to see a description of the NPIs in that group, download the specification or watch the related video.
For a leaflet on NPIs in general, please see this link.
The full specification details for all actions can be found here .
View all of the related videos from Acres Burren Aran here on our Resources page.
Water Provision
Water troughs, rainwater catchers, water storage tanks, solar water pumps and pasture pumps
Having a good, clean, reliable supply of water within a field can provide a range of benefits to water quality and biodiversity. Troughs can be used to keep cattle away from springs, streams and rivers and also encourage grazing in remote parts of winterages.
Scrub Control
Area or strip
Although beneficial for biodiversity in most cases in the Irish landscape, encroaching scrub poses a distinct threat to the unique and rare grasslands of the Burren and Aran areas.
Bracken Control
Strimming or Mechanical
Dense stands of bracken can threaten species-rich grassland areas. There is funding available for its control. There is funding available for 'cutting' or preferably 'bruising' the bracken in late May and then again 6 weeks later.
Conservation of Cultural Heritage Sites
The Burren and Aran islands are widely known for the wealth of archaeological or cultural features within the landscape. They do however require on-going maintenance and upkeep, a once-off payment is available per feature.
Wildlife Boxes
Barn owl, bat, swift and swallow boxes
Installing wildlife boxes on your farm can provide vital habitat for various species while earning you a decent payment.
Rodenticide-Free Rodent Control
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These gas-powered traps are a good alternative to using poison baits when controlling rodents in farmyards. Rodenticides must not be used on farms where Barn Owl boxes are installed due to the risk of in-directly poisoning the owls when they prey on dead or dying rodents. These traps work well when used in conjunction with Barn Owl Boxes and Mobile Feed Bins
Feed Provision
Mobile feed troughs and storage bins
​Burren ration is a great alternative to silage feeding in the lean spring months while in-calf cows are still on the winterage. These actions are designed to encourage meal feed as opposed to silage feeding on winterages.
Access​
Re-gravelling of winterage tracks and culverts
Vehicle access tracks are vitally important for managing cattle on remote, upland winterage sites on short winter days. Funding is available to repair sections of existing track which have fallen into disrepair.
On wetter ground, culverts may be installed on sections of track or drain crossings where vehicles and livestock are crossing through the water.​
Stone Wall Repair
Stone walls are important cultural features of the Burren and Aran areas, for walls that have fallen into disrepair, there is funding available to restore and maintain them.
Hedgerows
Planting new, or rejuvenating existing hedgerows.
Hedgerows are highly important habitats for wildlife and are great for providing shade and shelter to livestock. By replacing fencing with a hedgerow you may even be able to boost your score on some of your fields in addition to getting paid to plant the hedge.
Gates
Heritage or field gates
Gates are essential for managing livestock on remote sites and when planned correctly, they can have great in-direct benefits for habitats.
Fencing
Sheep, barbed wire or permanent electric
Stock-proofing existing boundaries can be an essential action when managing grazing habitats
Fencing
Sheep, barbed wire or permanent electric
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​€3.44/m - Sheep Wire
€1.52/m - Permanent Electric
€2.60/m - Barbed Wire
€257.50/unit - a Solar Electric Fencer
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Tree Planting Options
Traditional orchards, small woodlands(160 or 300 trees) or planting 3 trees
Tree planting has a wide range of benefits for biodiversity carbon capture, water quality and shade. There is good funding and a range of options available to you as an ACRES CP farmer.
Riparian Margins
​Fencing off a buffer zone along a river and allowing it to revegetate can have great benefits for the river by intercepting nutrients, holding the soil together, providing shade and the creation of a wildlife corridor. You can install either permanent electric fencing or sheep wire fencing along the river or drain and there is also an additional payment if you opt to plant trees within the margin.
Habitat Supports for Wild Birds
Wild bird cover crop and wader scrapes
Wild bird cover strips can be a great source of food for birds in winter and pollinators in summer. Crop can be planted on green land.
Wader scrapes are shallow ponds, dug for the benefit of breeding waders, as they are good foraging habitats for birds such as curlew they aren't suitable for limestone land or near forestry or hedgerows.
Winter Stubble
A good option for Arable farmers, this action provides a payment for leaving winter stubble on an arable field for the winter post harvest until Feb 1st the following year.
