Declaring EFA: learning from a virtual case Vincenzo Angileri European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy 2014 LPIS Workshop Brussels, 22-24 April 2014 Aim of the presentation Provide EFA declaration advices based on a practical case: Provide the farmer with accurate information Facilitate farmer s choice with a supporting tool (EFA calculator) How farmer can optimize EFA implementation Increase awareness on the impacts of Member States choices 2 1
The case: the Incognito farm A real question that was asked to DG AGRI a typical farm it includes most of the features on a farm The question: demonstrate the most efficient way to minimise loss of cropping area when applying 5% EFA On the other hand, what would be maximum lost of cropping area The calculation and allocation of EFA are based on the information at the moment the exercise was carried out. This may not be fully consistent with final decisions about EFA implementation. 3 Analysis of the farm Boundaries (in red) of cropping land do not follow the logic of arable land (i.e. woodland and permanent grassland is included) and they do not exclude features such as buildings and tracks 4 2
Analysis of the farm Boundaries (in red) of cropping land do not follow the logic of arable land (i.e. woodland and permanent grassland is included) and they do not exclude features such as buildings and tracks We refer to the LPIS 0 5 8 1 3 5 Analysis of the farm Boundaries (in red) of cropping land do not follow the logic of arable land (i.e. woodland and permanent grassland is included) and they do not exclude features such as buildings and tracks We refer to the LPIS 0 7 5 8 1 3 6 3
Analysis of the farm For the basic payment scheme Eligible area: area of cultivated land (arable land): 88 ha Permanent grassland: 1 ha Water meadow: 5 ha Land in existing environmental schemes -> arable land: 3 ha LPIS + orthophoto 5 8 1 0 7 Non eligible: Woodland: 2 ha Buildings, farm tracks, footpaths: 1 ha 3 drainage ditches not made of concrete: 1100m No GAEC landscape features No environmentally sensitive grassland 7 Analysis of the farm For the Ecological Focus Area Area of the farm (ha) 100,00 Cultivated crops 88,00 Land in existing environmental schemes (fallow land) 3,00 arable land (ha) 91,00 Permanent grassland 6,00 UAA (ha) 97,00 0 7 3 5 8 1 arable land (ha) 91,00 % EFA 0,05 EFA area (ha) 4,55 8 4
Calculation of EFA already present Assumption at MS level (MS choice!): All elements in the EFA list apply the MS applies conversion and weighting factors At farm level: 1100m of drainage ditches not made of concrete The land under AES is fallow Fallow land: 3 ha Ditches: 1100 m 0 7 3 5 8 1 9 Calculation of EFA already present Assumption at MS level (MS choice!): All elements in the list apply the MS applies conversion and weighting factors At farm level: 1100m of drainage ditches not made of concrete The land under AES is fallow Fallow land: 3 ha Ditches: 1100 m A EFA calculator can be used Features Land lying fallow Terraces ( per 1m) Landscape features: Buffer strips Hedges/wooded strips Isolated tree (per tree) Trees in line (per 1m) Group of trees/field copses Field margin Conversion factor (m/tree to m2) Features in the farm Ecological focus area (m2) (if both factors are applied) 2 1 m 0 20 1,5 nr 0 n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ponds n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ditches 3 2 m 0 Traditional stone walls Other features not listed above but protected under GAEC7, SMR 2 or SMR 3 Hectares of agro-forestry Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges Without production With production Areas with short rotation coppice (per1m 2 ) Weighting factor 1 1 m 0 0 6 0,3 m 0 Afforested areas as referred to in Article 32(2)(b)(ii) (per m 2 ) Areas with catch crops or green cover (per 1m 2 ) Areas with nitrogen fixing crops 10 TOTAL EFA HA 0 EFA difference ha -4,55 5
Calculation of EFA already present Assumption at MS level (MS choice!): All elements in the list apply the MS applies conversion and weighting factors Assumption at farm level: 1100m of drainage ditches not made of concrete The land under AES is fallow Fallow land: 3 ha Ditches: 1100 m A EFA calculator can be used Features Land lying fallow Terraces ( per 1m) Landscape features: Buffer strips Hedges/wooded strips Isolated tree (per tree) Trees in line (per 1m) Group of trees/field copses Field margin Conversion factor (m/tree to m2) Features in the farm Ecological focus area (m2) (if both factors are applied) n.a. 1 30000 m2 30000 2 1 m 0 20 1,5 nr 0 n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ponds n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ditches 3 2 1100 m 6600 Traditional stone walls Other features not listed above but protected under GAEC7, SMR 2 or SMR 3 Hectares of agro-forestry Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges Without production With production Areas with short rotation coppice (per1m 2 ) Weighting factor 1 1 m 0 0 6 0,3 m 0 EFA missing: 8.900 m² Afforested areas as referred to in Article 32(2)(b)(ii) (per m 2 ) Areas with catch crops or green cover (per 1m 2 ) Areas with nitrogen fixing crops TOTAL EFA HA 3,66 11 EFA difference ha -0,89 Making choices to allocate EFA The farmer has different options to fulfill this 0,89 ha missing 5 8 To minimize the loss of crop area: choose practices with the maximum conversion and weighting factors It depends on what it is feasible in the farm 0 1 Buffer strips: 1 m = 6 x 1,5 = 9 m² (not less than 1m wide) Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges without production: 1 m = 6 x 1,5 = 9 m² (1-10m wide) 3 12 6
Calculation of EFA minimizing loss Buffer strips (1m wide): 750 m = 6 x 1,5 = 6750 m² EFA = 750 m² lost Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges without production (1m wide): 250 m = 6 x 1,5 = 2250 m² = 250 m² lost Features Land lying fallow Terraces ( per 1m) Landscape features: Buffer strips Hedges/wooded strips Isolated tree (per tree) Trees in line (per 1m) Group of trees/field copses Field margin Conversion factor (m/tree to m2) Features in the farm Ecological focus area (m2) (if both factors are applied) n.a. 1 30000 m2 30000 2 1 m 0 20 1,5 nr 0 n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ponds n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ditches 3 2 1100 m 6600 Traditional stone walls Other features not listed above but protected under GAEC7, SMR 2 or SMR 3 Hectares of agro-forestry Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges Without production With production Weighting factor 1 1 m 0 6 1,5 750 m 6750-750 0 6 1,5 250 m 2250-250 6 0,3 m 0 cropping land lost compared to present (m2) Areas with short rotation coppice (per1m 2 ) Afforested areas as referred to in Article 32(2)(b)(ii) (per m 2 ) Areas with catch crops or green cover (per 1m 2 ) Areas with nitrogen fixing crops TOTAL EFA HA 4,56 13-0,1 EFA difference ha 0,01 Calculation of EFA minimizing loss Buffer strips (1m wide): 750 m = 6 x 1,5 = 6750 m² EFA = 750 m² lost Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges without production (1m wide): 250 m = 6 x 1,5 = 2250 m² = 250 m² lost This will be transferred into the farmer s declaration 14 7
Opposite solution Opposite: maximum lost of cropping area practice(s) with the minimum conversion and weighting factors leave an additional 0,89 ha of cultivated land as fallow Features Land lying fallow Terraces ( per 1m) Landscape features: Buffer strips Hedges/wooded strips Isolated tree (per tree) Trees in line (per 1m) Group of trees/field copses Field margin 2 1 m 0 20 1,5 nr 0 n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ponds n.a. 1,5 m2 0 Ditches 3 2 1100 m 6600 Traditional stone walls Other features not listed above but protected under GAEC7, SMR 2 or SMR 3 Hectares of agro-forestry Strips of eligible hectares along forest edges Without production With production Conversion cropping land lost Ecological focus area (m2) factor Weighting factor Features in the farm compared to present (m2) (m/tree to m2) (if both factors are applied) n.a. 1 38900 m2 38900 8900 1 1 m 0 0 6 0,3 m 0 Areas with short rotation coppice (per1m 2 ) Afforested areas as referred to in Article 32(2)(b)(ii) (per m 2 ) Areas with catch crops or green cover (per 1m 2 ) Areas with nitrogen fixing crops TOTAL EFA HA 4,55 0,89 EFA difference ha 0 15 Opposite solution Opposite: maximum lost of cropping area practice(s) with the minimum conversion and weighting factors leave an additional 0,89 ha of cultivated land as fallow 16 8
Lessons learnt Provide clear and accurate information to farmers: EFA elements that can be included clear definition of the element (dimensions, weighting and conversion factors etc.) information on the farm that affects the EFA percentage (e.g. in graphical pre-established form) Provide self-decision supporting tools (e.g. an EFA calculator) Give indications to farmers how to report EFA Consider all issues + compliance to legislation when defining your EFA 17 9