FEPS Scheme 2007

As noted on the home page, FEPS was introduced on the 9th of January by Minister Mary Wallace. With FEPS there is a greater emphasis in establishing "better looking" plantations and plantations that are more environmentally friendly. There will be more wildlife in these plantations and they will have a higher recreational and amenity value. They will still be commercial plantations from a timber production point of view with the option of having a high percentage of commercial forest species.

"If you take into consideration the higher premium payments to FEPS participants, these FEPS plantations will probably be even more commercial that those established under the Afforestation Scheme 2007" says Nicholas Cotter Director of Mid Western Forestry.

As noted before a farmer planting under FEPS will now get the new and improved forestry premium payable under the Afforestation Scheme 2007, PLUS the approximate equivalent of whatever REPS payment he would receive if he/she were getting REPS on the land planted under FEPS. Each persons situation will be different.

In simple terms, a farmer farming up to 40 ha will get an additional € 200 per ha for each ha planted under FEPS, farming between 40 and 55 ha will get an additional € 82 euro per ha planted under FEPS and over 55 ha will get just € 12 euro per ha planted under FEPS. As you can imagine, few farmers with holdings larger than 55 ha will find this scheme attractive for the money. That is not to say that they may not go for it for other reasons, some of which I note below.

Requirements of FEPS

To qualify for FEPS a farmer will need to 8ha to plant which can be made up of 3 plots anywhere on your farm(s), and will either have to be in REPS or agree to join REPS within 12 months of planting. In addition, as in all schemes, he/she will have to observe the rules of the scheme. The rules are largely similar to those of the Afforestation Scheme 2007 but allow the farmer to have a bit more open space/bio area and allow him/her to plant a little more broadleaves.

As with the Afforestation Scheme 2007, you can plant Sitka Spruce in a mixture with Larch for example, but you are not allowed to plant it as a pure block. Residual herbicides such as Atrazine are not allowed but you are allowed to use the safer glyphosate (Roundup). These measures are know in the FEPS Scheme Document as "mandatory measures" and are likely to result in a plantation which is more aesthetically pleasing and with better recreational and amenity values for the farmer and his family.

Then, similar to REPS, there is a menu of optional measures from which you need to choose six. These measures include for instance putting up bird boxes, erecting signage within the plantation, creating a pond, planting some shrubs such as holly and rowan to provide food for birds, access to the local school etc. You have plenty variety in the list of 19 measures to choose from. The full scheme document and an application form can be downloaded by clicking the relevant link on the right of this page

FEPS Scheme 2007 Additional Premium rates in € per ACRE
amount paid in addition to 2007 Forestry Premium
Total Farm Area (including land to be planted)	Up to 100 acres	100 to 135.90 acres	Over 135.90 acres
GPC 1, 3 - 7	80.94 acre	33.18 acre	4.86 acre

Endless possibilities and rewards for people in FEPS

Many of the landowners who have contacted us since the launch of the scheme are delighted with the possibilities that the scheme holds. With the changing nature and economics of farming, many are looking towards recreation, fishing, pony trekking, guesthouse accommodation and hunting as a way of increasing their incomes and the value of their holdings. They believe that by they planting under FEPS these possibilities can be delivered upon.

It has also been pointed out by more than one person who owns land by the public road, that if they planted behind an area that they intend to sell as sites that the sites would make much more and that the planning would be easier to get.

FEPS Scheme 2007 Additional Premium rates in € per Hectare
amount paid in addition to 2007 Forestry Premium
Total Farm Area (including land to be planted)	Up to 40 ha	40 ha to 55 ha	Over 55 ha
GPC 1, 3 - 7	200 ha	82 ha	12 ha

FEPS - a profitable Tax-Free lifestyle choice available to you

There are so many reasons why landowners should plant their land and I will deal more comprehensively with them on another page, but the biggest reason from my experience is the tax-free status of forestry and the fact that it frees up your time to so that you can pursue more profitable and rewarding employment while enhancing the value of your holding. In addition because you are making much more money and work is taking up less of your time, you have much more time to spend with your family and for hobbies and recreation.

Pictures of FEPS type plantations

A FEPS measures is to hang a timber gate at the entrance to the plantation.

Another measure is the wide spaced planting of trees.

Another measure is creating a pond or wetland

Another measure it the provision of seating and signage

FEPS 2007 Scheme Documents

Below are a number of documents that relate specifically to the new FEPS scheme that you can download. We include REPS 3 documents as if you go into FEPS you will also be joining REPS. Below also are information sheets on the various tree species that are planted.