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.
He said GLAS is part of the plan to support the specialist beef breeding seed bed for Ireland’s high-quality indigenous beef industry (see GLAS proposals on page 3).
Many had expected a coupled single farm payment for suckler farmers to achieve this objective.
Instead, the new 2015-2020 Irish farming plan will rely on building onto existing supports and adopting a more strategic approach.
The package for the suckler sector also includes payment of €80 per calf in a new beef data and genomics scheme; knowledge transfer to improve key skills at farm level; disadvantaged area payments, which will continue at existing levels; encouragement of collaborative farming; targeted advice on animal health and welfare; and marketing of local products through EU programmes.
Tuesday’s announcement confirmed there will be significant transfers from farmers with high single farm payment entitlements per hectare to those with low entitlements, in order to bring all to at least 60% of the national average entitlement value by 2019.
And all payments will be cut 2% in 2015, to finance the 25% top-up on direct payments for farmers aged under 40. Percentage deductions in subsequent years will be determined by demand.
Everyone’s payment will be cut 3% in 2015, to establish a payment national reserve. In subsequent years, the reserve will be replenished from unused entitlements.
There is good news for farmers who actively farmed in 2013, but never held payment entitlements, either owned or leased. They will be eligible for entitlements in 2015.
And farmers who produced fruit and vegetables in 2013, but did not receive a direct payment in that year, and consequently do not have an automatic allocation right, will also be eligible for an allocation of entitlements in 2015. The 2015-2020 package also includes incentives for on-farm capital investment, including support for dairy expansion.
(Source – Irish Examiner – Stephen Cadogan – Thursday, January 16, 2014)