Don’t miss the boat for GLAS 3 scheme
FARMERS who didn’t get into the first two tranches of the GLAS environmental scheme have been advised not ‘to miss the boat’ in what is expected to the final phase of the current scheme.
Applications for GLAS 3 have now opened but will close by mid-December (16th) with over 12,000 available places expected to be filled in the scheme that can increase farmers’ annual income by €5,000 for a five-year period.
New Inn Agricultural Consultant Vincent Costello told the Farming Tribune that with margins and cashflow very tight on West of Ireland farms, farmers should not miss out on the opportunity to sign up to GLAS.
“It is a scheme with very achievable targets but it can make a significant difference in terms of the viability of West of Ireland farmers.
“I would caution though that the window for applications is quite short and I would advise farmers not to put this on the ‘long finger’ especially in the run-up to Christmas.
“We would feel at this stage that nearly all farmers in the West of Ireland who want to get into the scheme should be successful,” said Vincent Costello.
He said that there was essentially very little difference in the actions required in GLAS 3 as compared to GLAS 2 – however the planting of new hedgerows and traditional orchards [suspended in GLAS 2], continues to stay ‘off the list’ of available actions.
A small number of farmers could qualify for a GLAS+ top-up payment of €2,000 where particularly ‘challenging actions’ have to be undertaken as regards environmental considerations.
The criteria for inclusion in GLAS is based on a ‘three tier’ priority system. Tier 1 farmers [pretty much guaranteed to get into the scheme] includes those with natura sites [SAC/SPA], commonages over 10 hectares [25 acres], high status water areas [bovines only] and farmland birds/rare breeds.
Tier 2 farmers includes those with a vulnerable water area, a minimum tillage requirement, the establishment of catch crops, low emission slurry spreading and wild bird cover. Tier 3 category farmers are simply those who don’t fit into either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 categories.
“This will be the final phase of GLAS, taking the overall numbers participating in the scheme to over 50,000. It will be a last chance for farmers to tap into this vital source of income,” said Vincent Costello.