Huge farmer interest is being reported in the newly opened agri-environment scheme, GLAS.

The demand has put the spotlight on the ability of advisers and the Department of Agriculture to meet the target of completing 30,000 farmer plans before the deadline of 30 April.

Those targets got off to a poor start last week when it emerged that only 260, or 50%, of advisers had been fully registered to submit GLAS plans when the scheme was officially opened. The Department has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that 400 planners have now been fully registered.

It has also said that training has been completed for 700 advisers, which means an additional 300 planners could be approved to carry out plans.

A major issue has emerged already where farmers split parcels to pick an area-based option such as low nitrogen pasture. This restricts the actions that can be carried out on that parcel. This is severely restricting the ability of farmers to get to the maximum of €5,000 payable under the scheme.

IFA president Eddie Downey said it is unacceptable that farmers who plan to join GLAS cannot do certain measures on a land parcel where another land-based measure is being applied.

The IFA is now insisting that the Minister tells his Department that farmers should be allowed split parcels before the 2015 BPS application to facilitate higher payment under the scheme.

There are also calls to get the Minster to confirm that the next GLAS scheme will reopen in late 2015 to allow farmers that do not get in before the April deadline to join from 1 January 2016.

Teagasc has moved this week to clarify its GLAS planning service fees on top of its normal registration fees.

It stated that the preparation of a GLAS plan plus farm visit will be €440. Once a farmer is accepted into GLAS, the fee for a nutrient management plan and farm visit will be €465. Teagasc also said there are no additional fees in the subsequent years of the contract. For commonage management plans, it put a fee of between €0 and €260 depending on the eligible area claimed.

The Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) has set guide fees for GLAS applications of €400 to €500 with nutrient management plans including a farm visit costing €400 to €600. The yearly review fee is set at €300 to €400 depending on the size of the farm and work needed.

Advisers are free to set their fees and there is evidence of competition in some areas bringing down prices charged to farmers. Some advisers are charging a percentage of the payment farmers receive under GLAS, rather than a higher upfront payment.

ACA president Tom Dawson said the land parcel issue is proving to be a major limiting factor for farmers as it sterilises the parcel for many actions such as planting hedges or coppicing under the scheme.

He also said that the exclusion of new entrants, and those on a joint herd number, from the 2015 scheme is unfair.

GLAS: Getting the farmers’ viewpoints

GLAS advisor focus: Breian Carroll of Carroll Consultancy

Getting into GLAS - the four measures to look at first

GLAS advisor focus: Michael Maloney of Maloney and Associates