Farmers Required to Provide Geotagged Photos for Straw Baling Scheme Update in 2024

Farmers Required to Provide Geotagged Photos for Straw Baling Scheme

Overview

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has announced that farmers must provide geotagged photos to claim payments under the new straw baling scheme. This directive follows the recent announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, who confirmed that the scheme would run alongside the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) in 2024.

Background

Initially, there was a proposal to defer the SIM due to concerns over a potential winter fodder shortage. However, this decision faced significant backlash from farm organizations and politicians, including criticisms from within the minister’s department.

Farmers Required to Provide Geotagged Photos for Straw Baling Scheme

Scheme Details

Despite the changes, funding allocated under SIM remains available to the tillage sector. Farmers now have the flexibility to choose between receiving funding by either chopping straw under SIM or baling it under the new scheme.

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Eligibility and Application Process

Any farmer participating in SIM is eligible to apply for the baling payment. The DAFM will soon provide detailed information on the application process. When a farmer decides to withdraw a parcel from SIM, they must inform DAFM through the usual channels and complete a form with parcel numbers, area details, and a geotagged photo of the bales in the field.

Requirements and Implementation

The primary goal of this measure is to ensure the availability of baled straw. Thus, actual baling is a mandatory requirement. Farmers must submit a geotagged photo of the bales in the designated parcel(s) once baling is complete. The specific timeframes for baling will be announced shortly.

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Geotagged Photos

Geotagged photos, containing GPS coordinates, were first introduced by DAFM in 2018 to support scheme applications and verify land parcel eligibility. DAFM developed the AgriSnap app, allowing farmers and their advisors to send geotagged pictures and information from smartphones and mobile devices. AgriSnap has been in use for SIM participants since 2022.

Quick Details

Conclusion

Farmers must adapt to the new requirement of providing geotagged photos to claim payments under the straw baling scheme. This initiative, aimed at ensuring the availability of baled straw, offers flexibility for farmers to choose their preferred method of receiving funding. The use of the AgriSnap app simplifies the process, ensuring efficient and accurate submission of necessary documentation.