Information exchange for REPS (Rural Environment Protection Scheme) Planners (Republic of Ireland)

[Ute Bohnsack <sustag AT eircom.net>]

Dear all,
My query relates to the calculation of the eligible area for organic
top-up.
Pagr 96 of the manual states:
"It is important to note that where the stocking density for the
forage area exceeds 0.5 livestock units per hectare, the eligible area
entered in the Organic (SM6) box on the REPS 1C must not exceed the
farmer's total forage area + area under crops (if applicable)."

So take an organic stock farmer with 40 ha contract area of which 4 ha is 
scrub,
woodland etc. not used for grazing, and 20 LU throughout the year.
The livestock element would entitle him/her to the top-up payment on
40 ha,
BUT there is only 36 ha forage area, the remainder being habitats, yards
etc.
Is the organic top-up paid on 36 ha or 40 ha???

Has anyone else come up against this?

Thanks.
 Ute