Transcript Document

GLAS
Green
Low-carbon
Agri-environment
Scheme
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Green – preserves and enhances the natural
environment
Low-carbon – retains carbon stocks in soil
through margins and habitat preservation
Agri-environment – promotes agricultural
production methods compatible with the
protection of the environment, water quality,
biodiversity and climate change mitigation
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Designed specifically to address
issues of...
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Species and habitats
Water quality
Climate Change
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I am an agricultural
advisor how do I register
for GLAS?
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•Have completed GLAS training (and
additional Commonage training)
•Be registered for FAS, GLAS and BPS
•Provide details of qualifications and PI
•Be separately authorised by a group of
commonage farmers to prepare a
Commonage Management Plan as part of their
GLAS application
•Only approved agricultural advisors will have
access to the GLAS online system
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I am a farmer, how do I
apply for GLAS?
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•Your online application is completed by an
approved agricultural advisor
•All approved applicants need a nutrient
management plan within a year
•You must attend training in environmental
practices and standards
•You must keep records of actions undertaken
for inspection.
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Tier 1(a) - priority environmental assets
Commonage
Natura
Birds
High Status Water
Rare Breeds
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Tier 1(b) – priority environmental actions
If an applicant has a whole-farm stocking-rate
exceeding 140kg livestock manure nitrogen
per hectare,
or
Have more than 30 hectares of arable crops.
They may choose a relevant required action,
i.e. low-emission slurry spreading, minimum
tillage, catch crops or wild bird cover.
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Tier 2(a) Environmental assets & actions
Applicant does not have any priority
environmental assets, but land includes a
vulnerable water area, is classified as ‘wet’ and
they keep bovines
Applicant can also seek entry by undertaking
specific priority actions – protection of
watercourses or riparian margins
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Tier 2(b) Environmental assets & actions
Choose and plan for one of the following
actions (minimum land area)
•Catch crops – arable farm <30ha
•Minimum tillage – arable farm <30ha
•Low-emission slurry spreading – livestock
farm <140kg N/ha
•Wild bird cover – livestock farm <140kg N/ha
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Tier 3 General actions
If applicant does not qualify under Tiers 1 or 2,
s/he can still apply under Tier 3 by selecting a
range of actions from a menu of options.
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What are the
general actions ?
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Low-input permanent pasture
Traditional hay meadow
Riparian margins
Coppicing, laying or planting new hedgerows
Planting a grove of native trees or traditional
orchard
Traditional stone wall maintenance
Minimum tillage
Low-emission slurry spreading
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general actions continued.......
Environmental management of fallow land
Arable grass margins
Catch crops
Protection of water courses from bovines
Protection of archaeological sites
Wild bird cover
Bird, bee and bat boxes
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How much will farmers be
paid?
The maximum payment is €5,000 each year, for a five
year contract.
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What is GLAS+?
GLAS+ provides an additional payment for farmers
making exceptional environmental commitment.
Normally, requires at least two PEAs, where combined
actions exceed €5,000 p.a.
Farmers who have bird PEAs, qualify automatically, if
they manage enough land.
There is no separate application and the payment will be
made automatically.
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Natura sites – what needs to be
done?
The advisor must draw up a Sustainable
Management Plan (SMP) to preserve the
species and habitats found on the holding
Participant must farm the land according to the
SMP and the prescription outlined in the
scheme specifications
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Farmland birds – what needs
to be done?
The objective is to promote and create suitable
habitat for breeding and foraging.
The advisor prepares the online application, and
the land is farmed according prescription outlined
in the scheme specifications.
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High status water course –
what needs to be done?
Parcels must be contiguous to the watercourse.
If there is cattle, the water course must be fenced. If
the land is under crops, the riparian margin action
must be chosen. (Action does not apply where only sheep involved.)
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Rare Breeds – what needs to
be done?
Written details of membership of the listed
breed societies for 2012 and/or 2013 is
submitted with the application. The farmer
must remain a member of the society for the
duration of their GLAS contract.
Payment is for up to 10 livestock units and
paid in arrears.
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GLAS and Afforestation
Afforestation is fully compatible with GLAS and
contributes to the creation of a landscape mosaic at
farm-level.
It is important to note that GLAS is not a whole-farm
scheme and opportunities continue to exist for
afforestation and for other forestry schemes on
parcels that are not in GLAS.
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FAQs are on the Website
www.agriculture.gov.ie → Farmer Schemes &
Payments → GLAS → FAQs
GLAS email: [email protected]
GLAS Lo Call Number: 0761 064 451
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