With proper planning, ACRES and the planting of land or afforestation can be fully compatible.
ACRES actions are specified per land parcel, not on the whole farm.
A parcel on which an ACRES action is situated may subsequently be split to facilitate afforestation or the planting of forestry.
Farmers may opt out of some ACRES actions if converting the parcel or land area to forestry during the ACRES scheme, prided the actions have been completed for a minimum of 2 years.
The forest creation measures in ACRES do not require an afforestation licence approval.
In order to maximise total farm income farmers should consider whole farm planning combining ACRES, The BISS, The Organic Farming Scheme and planting some land with trees under the afforestation scheme including the new Native Tree Area Scheme.
