NATIONAL NATIONAL RURAL NETW ORK MINISTRY FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AND EQUALITY MANAGING AUTHORITY FUNDS AND PROGRAMMES DIVISION TRIQ IL-KUKKANJA SANTA VENERA SVR 1411, MALTA TEL: +356 2200 1059 EMAIL: [email protected] NETWORK MALTA WWW.EUFUNDS.GOV.MT EDITION 17 DECEMBER 2019 Further Pre-Announcements of Measures MEASURE 1 • Landscape and environment: The total budget allocated to ‘KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER managing habitats and features this measure is €4.4m. Support AND INFORMATION ACTIONS’ • Maltese quality produce: under this measure is provided to improving quality, traceability, entities providing training courses 2 SUB-MEASURES strategic marketing, adding (sub-Measure 1.1), demonstration The scope of this call is to equip value, branding and promotion activities and information actions farmers with invaluable knowledge • Sustainable Livestock: (sub-Measure 1.2). Eligible and skills which would allow them improving resource efficiency, participants in these activities are to meet the challenges resulting competitiveness, productivity farmers and there is no limit on from the evolving standards and and welfare the size of the farm holding that demands of the rural economy. • Water, wastes and energy: can take part. Participation is to be Service providers applying improving sustainable use and provided free of charge. under this call are expected to generating renewable energy develop and present tailor-made • Wider rural economy and training programmes developed quality of life: developing MEASURE 2.1 in accordance with the needs rural tourism, rural skills and ‘SUPPORT TO HELP established in the RDP, including; promoting social inclusion BENEFITING FROM THE USE OF ADVISORY SERVICES’ The scope of the measure is to assist farmers through Farm Advisory Service Entities recognised by the Farm Advisory Service Registration Board. The use of advisory services for the agricultural sector complements the purpose of measures seeking to Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Part financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas improve human potential through • Service Package 1 which Nutrient Management Plan, and training, including Measure 1, and provides information and Operations in Natura 2000. The by providing incentives to farmers creates awareness on Cross service is a tailor-made service to seek direct advice to address Compliance obligations and oriented to solve a specific their specific situation. The budget benefit of AECMs and /or request(s) by the farmer and is allocated to this sub-measure is explanation of the requirements provided freely of charge. €1.9m. and obligations of the AECM • Service Package 2 provides Advisory service is focused on measures implemented by technical advice on the specific issues that are directly the end beneficiary. Other adaptation and mitigation to asked by the recipients of the services under this Service climate change. advice, which should really assess Package include assessing the • Service Package 3 provides the specific situation of each compliance status with the advice of the development of a individual and that is not mere Cross Compliance requirements, business plan. dissemination nor only presenting Occupational Health and Safety The recipients of the advice general information. The service requirements, Soil Testing is restricted to farmers and is packages available under this and Fertiliser Planning, Soil provided free of charge up to measure include: Sampling, Record Keeping, €1,500. Composting THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR MALTA 2014- under this AECM. This article will 2020 (RDP) CONTAINS A SERIES OF AGRI-ENVIRONMENT provide an overview on how to CLIMATE MEASURES (AECMS) WHICH FALL UNDER MEASURE make composting using the ‘Hot 10.1. THESE ARE VOLUNTARY MEASURES, WHICH FARMERS turn Composting Method’ . This method is the one recommended CAN CHOOSE TO UNDERTAKE. SUPPORT IS GRANTED FOR in the Methodological Assumptions UNDERTAKING A SET OF ACTIONS, WHICH GO ABOVE WHAT IS for Payments Calculations, which is EXPECTED OF THEM BY LAW. an Annex of the RDP. The hot composting method These measures target the various This measure is aimed at arable is more intensive and labour agricultural sectors including land and its objective is to help productive but can potentially permanent crops (vineyards, olive farmers to target the three primary produce compost in as quickly trees fruit trees), arable land, soil related threats on a parcel as 20 days. It has the benefits of beekeepers and protection of level; erosion, compaction and killing weed seeds and pathogens native farm species. low soil organic matter. One of (diseases), and breaking down the One such measure is AECM 5: the obligations of this measure, material into very fine compost. In Measure for the implementation is that farmers have to practice contrast, cold composting takes a of a soil management and composting on at least one of much longer time (six to 12 months) conservation plan on a holding. their parcels which are committed and does not destroy seeds, so National Rural Network | 3 if you cold compost weeds, any 3. The compost heap needs to be green materials and 2/3 dry carbon weed seeds will grow when you at least 1.5m high (any lower materials. put the compost into the garden. than this will not generate the • Materials that are high in carbon Cold composting does not destroy heat required); are typically dry, “brown” pathogens either, so if you put 4. If composting material is high in materials, such as sawdust, diseased plants into your cold carbon, such as tree branches, cardboard, dried leaves, straw, compost, the diseases may spread they need to be broken up, such branches and other woody or into the garden, hence the common as with a mulcher; fibrous materials that rot down advice not to (cold) compost 5. Compost is turned from outside very slowly. diseased plants. The other issue to inside and vice versa to mix it • Materials that are high in with cold composting is that you thoroughly; nitrogen are typically moist, end up with lots of large pieces “green” materials, such as left over in the compost when the In order to achieve the ratio of lawn/grass clippings, fruit process is completed, whereas carbon to nitrogen, the compost and vegetable scraps, animal hot compost looks like fine black materials need to be between 25 manure and green leafy humus (soil). to 30 parts carbon to one-part materials that rot down nitrogen by weight. A simple very quickly KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS IS ONLY method is to use 1/3 Manure and A GUIDE AND IS JUST PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON ONE OF MANY POSSIBLE WAYS TO MAKE COMPOSTING. THIS GUIDE IS IN SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE: NO WAY PUTTING OBLIGATIONS ON FARMERS WHO ARE • Locate your compost heap in an area protected from too BENEFICIARIES UNDER AECM 5 much sun or heavy rain, to prevent the compost from drying TO PRACTICE THIS COMPOSTING out or becoming water-logged and slowing down the METHOD. FARMERS ARE FREE composting process. TO PRACTICE ANY OTHER • Space required for your heap should be a minimum 1.5 x 1.5 COMPOSTING METHODS THEY metres, and enough space in front of it to stand when turning SEE FIT. the compost. Any smaller than this will generate the heat required) The requirements for hot • Water each layer until it is moist as you build the heap. composting are as follows: After three or four days, give the compost air by mixing and 1. Compost temperature is turning it over, then turn every three days until the compost maintained between 55-65 is ready, usually in 14-21 days. Remember, frequent turning degrees Celsius; and aeration is the secret of successful composting. 2. The C:N (carbon:nitrogen) • Turn the compost using a garden fork, or even better, a long- balance in the composting handled pitchfork. materials is approximately • In cold or wet weather, you can cover the compost heap with 25-30:1; a tarp or plastic sheet, to prevent the rain cooling it down, since the water will penetrate into the core of the compost pile. Even though cold outside air will cool the surface, but not the core of the compost heap, by covering it, this prevents some heat loss from the surface to cooler outside air, and retains the heat within the compost heap better NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK. MANAGING AUTHORITY RDP 2014-2020 FUNDS AND PROGRAMMES DIVISION, TRIQ IL-KUKKANJA, SANTA VENERA SVR 1411, MALTA TEL: +356 2200 1059 | EMAIL: [email protected] | WWW.EUFUNDS.GOV.MT | WWW.EUFUNDSMALTA.GOV.MT National Rural Network | 4 STEP BY STEP GUIDE1 DAY 7 & DAY 9 • To heat up the compost • The compost heap should faster, a handful of blood & DAY 1 reach its maximum bone fertiliser per pitchfork • Mix together ingredients by temperature on these days. when turning speeds it up. laying them in alternating As an simple guideline. if you • If it gets too hot and smelly thin layers of “greens” and can put your arm into the and goes down in size, it has “browns”. compost up to the elbow, too much nitrogen, need • Wet the compost heap down then it is not at 50 degrees to slow it down, throw in very well so it is dripping Celsius, and is not hot a handful of sawdust per water out of the bottom and enough. pitchfork when turning is saturated. • Turn the compost heap over • The layers need to be mixed every second day (on day 6 DAY 11 TO DAY 17 in alternating layers of brown and again on day 8). • Continue to turn the compost high carbon materials and • If the compost pile starts every 2nd day green nitrogen rich materials. coming down in size quickly, Ideally, the layer at the top there is too much nitrogen in DAY 18 -21 contains dry brown carbon the compost.