IFA: Farmers who sign up for GLAS must be accepted into the scheme

Farmers who sign up for GLAS on commonage lands must be accepted into the scheme, said IFA rural development chairman Flor McCarthy.

He has called on the commonage implementation committee to deliver the GLAS flexibility which Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney promised in July. Mr Coveney had said if the 50% management deal is not achieved for legitimate reasons, active farmers will still get priority to participate in GLAS, the IFA stated.

“He must ensure that the commonage implementation committee, which IFA fought for and secured, must recognise the difficulties and constraints of hill farming and ensure the minister’s commitment to IFA in July is upheld,” Mr McCarthy said.