Chapter Eight Environmental Assessment

Question 1

What does EIA stand for?

Answer 1

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Question 2

What is screening when we are referring to EIA regulations?

Answer 2

An Environment Impact Assessment is needed before farmers do certain types of development on their land. Screening is the cost-free process in which the Department examines the proposed activities for environmental impact to determine if they can go ahead without the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Where the activities are likely to have a significant effect on the environment a full EIA will be required.

Question 3

Which of the following IS an exempted activity (does NOT need DAFM approval) under Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations?

A) Maintenance of hedgerows
B) Removal of stonewalls
C) Ploughing of semi-natural areas
D) Installation of field drains

Answer 3

A) Maintenance of hedgerows

Question 4

Give TWO examples of when a farmer may have to apply for screening under EIA Regulations?

Answer 4

If the proposed activity exceeds DAFM thresholds.
If the proposed activity is within or near or may affect a proposed Natural Heritage Area or nature Reserve.
If the proposed activity may have a significant impact on the environment.
If the proposed activity may have a significant impact onan archaeological monument.

Question 5

What waterbodies are considered “watercourses” under cross compliance?

Answer 5

River/drain/well/spring/lake (etc). Any natural or artificial channel above or below ground through which water flows, such as a river, stream, ditch, mill stream or culvert.

Question 6

List FOUR substances often found on farms that can cause water pollution if not properly stored.

Answer 6

Chemical fertilisers,
livestock manure,
soiled water
organic fertilisers

Question 7

What are the THREE different types of on-farm activities that can be affected by EIA regulations?

Answer 7

(1) Re-structuring of Rural Land Holdings.
(2) Commencing to use uncultivated land or semi-natural ares for intensive agriculture.
(3) Land Drainage works on lands used for agriculture (excluding drainage or reclamation of wetlands).

Question 8

What is the minimum share of agricultural land a farmer must provide as space for nature under the new conditionality requirements (%).

Answer 8

At least 7% of a farmer’s holding must be devoted to biodiversity,
habitats or landscape features, building on the 4% requirement for all
farmers already set under GAEC 8 as part of Conditionality. W

Question 9

When did GAEC 2: Protection of Wetland and Peatland come into effect?

Answer 9

In Ireland, this GAEC standard will be applicable from 2024 onwards a

Question 10

What do the following letters stand for?

SMR
GAEC

Answer 10

SMR = Statutory Management Requirements.
GAEC = Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition.

Question 11

Name TWO of the new GAEC’s coming into the new conditionality requirements.

Answer 11

GAEC 8
Minimum share (4%) of land devoted to non-productive areas or
features on all agricultural area, retention of landscape features, ban on
cutting hedges and trees during the bird breeding and nesting season
and measures for avoiding invasive plant species.

GAEC 9 Ban on converting or ploughing permanent grassland designated as
environmentally sensitive permanent grasslands in Natura 2000 sites

Question 12

For the purpose of Cross Compliance, soiled water which is stored with slurry is deemed to be slurry?

Answer 12

True.For the purposes of Conditionality, soiled water, which is stored together with slurry, is deemed to be slurry

Question 13

How many weeks slurry storage capacity is required in your county?

Answer 13

16 weeks in Kildare

Question 14

List TWO storage requirements for farmyard manure (FYM)?

Answer 14

FYM cannot be stored in a field at any time during the prohibited spreading periods applicable to FYM (Zone A, B or C).
You must collect all seepage from FYM when stored within the farmyard/shed.
* You can store FYM in a field during the spreading season, but you must store it in a compact heap, and you cannot store it within certain buffer zones.

Question 15

. How many metres of a buffer zone must be left when spreading slurry near a water way?

5 metres 10 metres 2 metres

Answer 15

5 metres

Question 16

Is it True or False – Does the slurry buffer zone in regards to surface water increase from 5-10 metres two weeks into the open season for spreading slurry and two weeks prior to the season closing?

Answer 16

True.

Question 17

List TWO times the buffer zone for organic fertiliser increases from 5 metres to 10 metres?

Answer 17

**Increased to 10m for two weeks prior to the commencement of the prohibited
spreading period, and again for two weeks after the end of the prohibited spreading
period

Question 18

Under normal conditions what is the buffer zone that must be adhered to when spreading chemical fertiliser from a waterbody?

A) 1 metre
B) 3 metres
C) 7 metres
D) 10 metres

Answer 18

B) 3 metres

Question 19

Under SMR 2 – Protection of waters from pollution caused by nitrates
List TWO requirements under this SMR in relation to the storage of silage bales?

Answer 19

Silage bales cannot be stacked more than 2 bales high or stored within 20m of a surface water or water abstraction point unless there are storagefacilities in place to collect any
potential effluents.

Question 20

Under GAEC 8 regarding hedgerow removal list a requirement the farmer must adhere to?

Answer 20

Length of field boundary to be removed under 500 metres requires DAFM screening.

Question 21

Which of the following statements regarding the Nitrates Derogation is the ONLY true one?
A) The derogation allows you to apply 260kg of organic nitrogen per hectare.
B) Soil testing must be carried out every 5 years with a minimum of one test per 5 hectares.
C) To be eligible for derogation the farm must be 80% grassland.
D) 50% of slurry spread must be spread using LESS equipment on farm.

Answer 21

C) To be eligible for derogation the farm must be 80% grassland.

Question 22

Under SMR 8 Sustainable use of Plant Protection Products -
List any TWO requirements in which farmers should be adhering to when using pesticides in line with EU Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive?

Answer 22

Do you have a dedicated storage area for the pesticides you use?
* Do you have pesticides segregated from food and feed?
* Your pesticide store must be:
- Lockable and bunded.
- Labelled with a warning sign.
- Separate from food and feed storage.
- Equipped with a spill kit (e.g., bucket of sand/peat).
* Do you have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), e.g., gloves, goggles,
face shield/mask, coverall, etc.

Question 23

What is the overall aim of the new Eco Scheme?

Answer 23

The new Eco-Scheme is being launched under pillar 1 of the
new CAP to incentivise farmers for undertaking actions
beneficial to the climate, environment, water quality and
biodiversity

Question 24

List any TWO of the 8 options available under the new Eco Scheme?

Answer 24

Insert picture.

Question 25

What is the minimum stocking rate to be considered an active farmer within the new CAP?

Answer 25

0.10 Livestock Units per hectare

Question 26

How often can you avail of “Option 6 Soil sampling and appropriate liming” under the new CAP Eco Scheme?

Answer 26

Once every 3 years.

Question 27

How much of a farmer’s land must be sown under multi species swards if option 8 of the new CAP Eco Scheme is selected?

Answer 27

This action involves sowing of a multi-species sward on at least 7%
of eligible hectares in the year the action is selected. Where s/he
selects it again in a further year, the farmer must sow down a further
7%.

Question 28

Give TWO benefits of sowing a break crop?

Answer 28

They produce their own nitrogen and also leave residual nitrogen for the following crop

Question 29

What does MACC stand for and list one measure implemented under the new MACC launched in 2023?

MACC = _________________________________________________
One Measure = ___________________________________________

Answer 29

The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve - Means the current actions that could be taken to reduce harmful emissions and the cost of those actions.

Improve the efficiency of breeding animals (Economic Breeding Index).
Use of Clover (less need for chemical Nitrogen)
Proportions of Souls with the correct Ph

Question 30

What does ACRES stand for in relation to the environmental scheme launched in 2022?

Answer 30

Agri Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (ACRES)

Question 31

Under SMR 2 - Protection of waters from pollution caused by nitrates – List and explain in detail 5 requirements under this SMR the farmer should be adhering to?

Answer 31

Use an upward-facing splash plate, sludge irrigator or rain gun on a tanker or on an
umbilical system when spreading organic fertiliser or soiled water.
* Spread organic fertilisers or soiled water from a road or passageway, even if the
road or passageway is on your own holding.
* Spread chemical fertilisers, livestock manure, soiled water or other organic
fertilisers when:
- The land is waterlogged.
- The land is flooded, or it is likely to flood.
- The land is frozen or covered with snow.
- Heavy rain, i.e., a Met Eireann ‘yellow’, ‘orange’ or ‘red’ rainfall warning, is
forecast within 48 hours.

Question 32

Outline 1 on-farm activities in detail referring to
A) The activities restricted
B) The exempted activities
C) The threshold for EIA Screening and mandatory EIA. (3.5%)

Answer 32

(1) Restructuring of rural land holdings -
(a) Works carried out to enhance or intensify the agricultural productivity of uncultivated land or semi natural areas including ploughing or increasing fertilizer levels.

Exempted activity - Controlling vegetation such as invading briars does not require DAFM approval.

Threshold: 5 ha hectares EIA screening required. Consent 50 ha.