News on eco-schemes for campaign 2024

The 2024 Direct Payments Campaign brings new changes to the implementation of eco-schemes. These are laid down in the draft ordinance for amendment and supplement to Ordinance No. 3 of 2023 on the conditions and procedure for the application of interventions in the form of direct payments included in the Strategic Plan.

Public consultation is until May 20.

Eco-scheme for green fertilization

In the eco-scheme for preserving and restoring soil potential – promoting green fertilization and organic manuring, intermediate crops are distinguished from cover crops with different periods of presence in the field.

This aims to refine the conditions, achieve simplification, and clearly define the requirements for both types of crops. The content of organic soil improvers is specified – organic improvers, organic fertilizers, organo-mineral fertilizers, microbial fertilizers, plant biostimulants, processed farmyard manure.

Eco-scheme for reducing pesticides

In the eco-scheme for reducing pesticide use, ecological practices have been reformulated. Along with the use of pheromone traps, the possibility of using beneficial biological agents, bacteriological or fungal agents, has been included.

Eco-scheme for perennial crops

Two new ecological activities applicable within the inter-rows of perennial crops have been added to the eco-scheme for ecological maintenance of perennial crops. Farmers can choose from three alternative ecological activities in the inter-rows.

The ecological practices and activities include the possibility of maintaining the inter-rows of perennial crops with natural vegetation, which aims to increase the ecological effect and reflect the specifics of agricultural holdings in the country.

Eco-scheme for crop diversification

The following perennial crops have been added to the eligible crops for support under the eco-scheme for diversifying cultivated crops (apples, pears, apricots, wild apricots, cherries, sour cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums (Prunus domestica), table grapes, strawberries, raspberries, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, chestnuts, pistachios, and other nut species). These are considered as one crop for the purposes of the eco-scheme. The share of the main crop in the eco-scheme has been increased to a maximum of 95%, compared to the permissible share in 2023 of up to 90%.

Eco-scheme for biodiversity

Within certain elements of the ecological infrastructure under the eco-scheme for maintaining and improving biodiversity and ecological infrastructure, a condition has been included that the removal of trees of local species near wetlands and eroded areas is not allowed in the declared areas, and trees with hollows must be preserved.