Major new green scheme rings the changes

GLAS will be the new REPS in 2015, in Ireland’s version of CAP reform, announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney on Tuesday.

GLAS (green, low carbon agri-environment scheme) is designed to build on the progress made under REPS and AEOS, and will provide for payment of up to €5,000 for up to 50,000 farmers, and a further payment of up to €2,000 for a limited number of farmers who take on particularly challenging actions.

The introduction of this agri-environment/climate scheme is surprising in view of the inherent major environmental re-orientation of the single farm payment in 2015, with 30% of it becoming a greening payment, conditional on all farmers implementing crop diversification, permanent grassland, and ecological focus area measures. “The package of measures I am announcing today provides practical, targeted support that will help the sector to achieve its ambitions while meeting its climate change responsibilities,” Mr Coveney said.