Over-subscribed GLAS options changed
The Rural Development Programme targets to 2020 for low input permanent pasture, protection of watercourses, laying hedgerows, planting new hedgerows, planting of traditional orchards, bird, bee and bat habitats, wild bird cover and stone wall maintenance have been achieved.
As a result, GLAS measures are being “rebalanced” in tranche two, due to open for applications shortly.
“Not all the actions which have met or exceeded targets require to be adjusted, given that the associated spend is in many cases relatively easily accommodated in the total budget,” said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.
However, the low input permanent pasture component is limited to five hectares in tranche two.
Mr Coveney said, “The average application for low input permanent pasture so far has been about 7.5 hectares, so we will reduce that slightly.
"While this means that we will still see permanent pasture coming into GLAS, I hope it will encourage more farmers to take the hay meadow option, which is well behind target, and which delivers the same payment per hectare.”
“I am proposing to suspend the planting of new hedgerows for the second tranche, along with the planting of traditional orchards. Both actions have met their targets for the entire RDP, and there are concerns about the availability of planting stock. I will, however, review this in the third tranche.”
“Under the first tranche, so far eight million plants have been ordered. Our contacts with the forestry service and relevant nurseries indicate they will have serious difficulty supplying even the quantity of planting stock in the timeframe required for the tranche one applicants.”
“ In other words, to solve this problem, we would need to import huge volumes of trees, which is a disease risk and a concern, so we are taking a practical approach here. That is why we are looking at farmers taking up other options instead of planting new hedgerows.”
“The farming organisations have strongly welcomed the changes making it easier to get into the scheme for farmers in an SAC or if they have rare birds, for example, a hen harrier. It is now easier for those in that category to get into GLAS and increase their payments.”
The Minister predicted that tranche two will bring another 10,000 landowners into GLAS, bringing the total participating to roughly 36,000 farmers from January 1.
“We will then progress after that to move up to the full 50,000 applicants when we can afford to do it. On the basis of the expected intake, expenditure this year on GLAS will be €20 million.”
Speaking in Dáil Eireann, he rejected fears expressed by Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal North-East, Charlie McConalogue, that smaller farmers will fall short of the full €5,000 GLAS payment because the Minister is removing the low input permanent pasture measure.
Minister Coveney said many options other than low input permanent pasture are available to the farmers.
“For Natura land, I am providing for part-parcel actions, combined with compatible actions on the remaining part-parcel.
“On protection of watercourses, I am also providing for this action to be available on any land adjoining a water course where cattle may have access, and not just on grassland parcels.
“For rare breeds, I am making it possible for farmers who acquired Kerry Bog Ponies and Galway Sheep in 2014 and who joined the relevant societies, to enter GLAS now under Tier 1. This particular concession recognises the comparatively greater conservation challenge facing these breeds. The remaining Rare Breeds listed for GLAS continue to provide Tier 1 access under exactly the same terms as before.
“These proposed changes have been notified to the European Commission, as required, and their final response is expected very shortly.
