GLAS Updates

Farmers who availed of the Green Low-carbon Agri-environmental Scheme (GLAS) extension in January are reminded that their GLAS contract must be extended in its entirety following the Terms & Conditions and associated Specifications unless the participant is no longer in control of the land.

Receipts for work carried out must be retained for the extension period and three months after the end of the contract.

Records must be maintained annually for the contract’s duration and three months after the end of the GLAS contract.

Key reminders for the following Actions:

Bat, Bee & Bird boxes

• Repair/replace boxes if required during the extension period.

Grey Partridge

• Rotational Option 1 – Year 6: Re-establish 4 meters of the 8 meters Grey Partridge Mix, leave 4 meters in-situ. Rotational
• Option 2 – Year 6: Re-establish 3 meters of the 9 meters Grey Partridge Mix, leave 6 meters in-situ.
• Where the farmer is delivering a grass margin via 3-meter drill – Management regime for year 6: Topping/ Mulching after August 31st and before January 15^th.

Twite C

• Maintain management of Twite Winter Feed crop by sowing an appropriate seed mix by May 31^st For farmers who have selected the Two-year mix, the kale will remain in situ, and the cereal crop will need to be re-established.

Catch Crops

• Maintain establishment of catch crop annually by September 15th, either by broadcasting or drilling. Grazing of catch crops is permitted but not until after December 1^st.

Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS)

• Farmers must continue to spread all slurry by LESS during the extension period.
• GLAS participants applying for Nitrates Derogation will not be eligible for a GLAS payment for this action from 2021 onwards regardless of whether the stocking rate exceeds 170KgN/ha.
• GLAS participants operating at a whole farm stocking rate of 170kg (or above) nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure are ineligible for a GLAS payment for this action from April 15^th, 2021 onwards.

Protection of Watercourses from Bovines

• Maintenance must be undertaken on the fence, and replacement stakes installed if required during the extension period.
• GLAS participants applying for a Nitrates Derogation will not be eligible for a GLAS payment for this action from 2021 onwards, regardless of whether the stocking rate exceeds 170KgN/ha.
• GLAS participants operating at a grassland stocking rate of 170kg (or above) nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock manure are ineligible for a GLAS payment for this action from April 15^th, 2021 onwards.

Rare Breeds

• Eligible lives stock species – * Note: Following negotiations, the continued eligibility of the UK Dexter Cattle Society and the Irish Moiled Cattle Society for the extension period has been clarified. Dexter Cattle and Irish Moiled (or Maol) Cattle continue to be eligible livestock species for the Rare Breeds action. However, from 2021 onwards, to be eligible for continued payment on these breeds, the participant must provide proof of membership of the Irish Dexter Cattle Society and/or the Irish Moiled Cattle Society.

• Traditional Dry-Stone Wall Maintenance. All walls entered for this action must be maintained from the contract’s commencement to the end of the GLAS contract, including the extension period.

Traditional Hay Meadow

• Grazing cannot occur from April 15^th until the meadow is mown, which must be after July 1^st.
• Topping cannot take place from March 15^th till after the meadow is mown.

Wild Bird Cover

• Crops must remain in situ until March 15^th, and livestock may enter the crop from March 15^th until planting time to aid in the trash decomposition.
• A wild bird cover must be replanted by sowing an appropriate seed mix by May 31^st.
• Wild Bird Cover – sow appropriate seed mix by May 31^st Where farmers have selected the Two-year mix, the kale will remain in situ in one half of the plot, and the cereal crop will need to be re-established in the other half of the plot.

For more information see: GLAS Specifications