What is the closing date for GLAS? Can leased land be included? The Department of Agriculture answers your questions.
What is the official closing date? Is it 30 April or 15 May?
The closing date is 30 April 2015.
Can newly leased land in 2015 be included in a GLAS plan or does it need to have been farmed by applicant in 2014?
GLAS applications for the current tranche are based on the herd number and land parcels submitted in the 2014 SPS application. Therefore newly leased land (leased after 2014 SPS) will not appear on an applicant’s GLAS application.
Can rented land be included in a GLAS plan?
Rented land can be included in a GLAS application, provided that the farmer has control of the land for the full contract and that the land was included in their 2014 SPS.
There is a limit of 40kg per ha per year of chemical nitrogen usage. Does this mean that slurry or farmyard manure can be applied to provide extra Nitrogen?
Yes, within the limits of the Nitrates. The 40kg restriction is for chemical Nitrogen fertiliser.
I have a son who is registered with a rare breed society and he keeps and breeds these animals on the family farm. Can he be added to the herd number and then qualify for the rare breeds option in the scheme?
Adding the son’s name to the herd number at this time will not create Tier 1 application for tranche one.
The maximum payment is €5,000 and €2,000 extra euro for farmers with more than one priority option – what does this mean and how do you get the extra €2,000?
To qualify for GLAS+ a farmer must have more than one priority environmental asset (PEA) on their holding and at least one of those PEAs must generate a payment of over €5,000 per annum (basic GLAS rate). They will then receive payment of up to an additional €2,000. The five PEAs are:
- Farmland habitat (private Natura)
- Commonages
- Farmland birds – designated species
- High status water site
- Rare breeds
Can a farmer get paid on more than two Priority Assets?
A farmer can get paid on more than two PEAs, but at least one can never exceed €5,000 and the sum of the remainder can never exceed €2,000.
In relation to Wild Bird Cover (WBC), the maximum area for payment is 3ha. So is the maximum plot area 3ha?
The plot can be bigger and if this is the case, the applicant has two options:
- Deliver a part parcel action of 3ha and fence off that area.
- Deliver a whole of parcel action, but they will only be paid for a maximum or 3ha.
If I pick wild bird cover (WBC) in GLAS, will I lose my disadvantaged area payment on this area?
You will lose your disadvantaged area payment if you choose WBC.
What is the update on the commonages, will there be a collective agreement required?
One application only will be accepted for commonages with a gross area over 10ha. A collective agreement is still required.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 09/03/2015)
New Entrants, Organic Farmers and Watercourses
The Department of Agriculture answers more of your questions on GLAS.
Can a new entrant in 2015 submit a GLAS plan?
GLAS applications are based on the herd number and land parcel information submitted on the 2014 SPS claim. A new entrant will be apply for GLAS in a later tranche, once they have submitted a valid 2015 BPS application.
I’m currently applying for a new herd number and want to lease land for a minimum of five years. Does this lease need to be stamped by the Property Registration Authority? Or will a lease drawn up and signed and witnessed by all parties involved be sufficient?
GLAS applications in the current tranche are based on the herd number and land parcel information declared and confirmed on your 2014 SPS claim. If you are a new entrant and didn’t make a 2014 SPS claim, then you will not be able to apply for GLAS until after your 2015 BPS application is submitted and accepted.
In any event, a GLAS participant must have control of the land for the entire duration of their GLAS contract and must make a valid BPS application each year.
Can farmers who wish to apply this year to become organic farmers, apply to GLAS as Tier 1 organic farmer?
Yes, they can.
How long do organic farmers need to be registered as such?
They must continue to be registered as an organic producer for the duration of their GLAS contract.
If I choose the action ‘protection of watercourses from bovines’, am I allowed to include watercourses which are already fenced, but may need to be re-fenced? Also can I include fenced watercourses which were required to be fenced in previous agri schemes like REPS, where the fences are still fit for purpose?
Yes – measure is to protect watercourses for duration of contract. All watercourses on the holding must be fenced if taking this action.
Are watercourses on land which is leased for duration of the GLAS contract eligible for submission under ‘protection of watercourses from bovines’?
Yes
If the watercourse is internal with the applicants land touching both sides, will they be paid the €1.50 on each side?
If the parcels are grassland and the person has bovines, then they will be paid for both sides.
I have a watercourse that has water in it 90% of the time, but it is not registered on the GLAS mapping system. Can I still put down for protection of watercourses from bovines?
If a water course does not appear on the GLAS mapping system, then it cannot be chosen for the protection of water courses from bovines action.
If there is any sign of heather at all in a pasture for LIPP, does this automatically exclude the farmer from this option?
If a parcel has heather it is not eligible to draw down payment in GLAS as a LIPP parcel.
Are capital allowances included in the payment rates?
Capital allowances are included in the payment rates and will not be paid separately.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 09/03/2015)
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