Donal Cronin is dairy farmer from Clonsillagh, Dromcollogher, Co Cork. Since the abolition of dairy quotas, he has been expanding cow numbers and is now in derogation which permits him to spread more chemical fertiliser on his land than what is normally allowed.
Donal is considering making a GLAS III application because he thinks it will boost his income and will not dramatically affect the way he manages his farm. During the week, Ronan Kennedy, the local GLAS planner from FRS, visited Donal’s farm to explain to him the actions suitable for his farm. The actions Ronan described are designed to tick two boxes:
Increase Donal’s chances of a successful application. Maximise the payment.Currently, Donal gets a contractor to spread some of his slurry using an umbilical system and dribble bar. He used to spread all the slurry himself but now with cow numbers growing he does not have much time for this type of work, especially during the springtime.
By going into GLAS III and selecting the low emission slurry spreading action, Donal will have to spread all the slurry on the farm using either a dribble bar, band spreading or trailing shoe. With a whole-farm stocking rate exceeding 140kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare produced on the holding, Donal’s application will fall into tier I if he chooses this slurry spreading action.
“Given that Donal already spreads some of his slurry using a dribble bar, the low emission slurry spreading option is a natural choice for his application,” explained Ronan.
After checking the online GLAS system Ronan found a number of eligible watercourses on Donal’s farm which would allow him to choose the protection of watercourses action. The protection of watercourses action involves fencing off all watercourses that are identified on the GLAS online system a minimum of 1.5 metres from the top of the bank of the watercourses to exclude bovines by 31 May 2017.
Ronan has also included some minor actions for Donal to consider in his plan. They include planting a grove of native trees, erecting bird, bat and bee boxes and creating a bee habitat with sand.
Table 1 shows the actions Donal now has to consider, the quantities specified for the farm, the payment rate and the total amount of money Donal would receive annually if he chooses the options outlined.
This application is still being drafted and needs the go-ahead from Donal before it is submitted. The deadline for submitting a GLAS III application is 15 December 2016.
I am seriously considering joining the scheme. The way I see it is, I’ll have to get a contractor in to spread all my slurry if the application is successful, but the GLAS payment will more then cover this cost.
With dairy expansion I have less time for jobs like spreading slurry, so bringing in a contractor would free up time for me.
I also like the low emission slurry spreading action because in the spring time I can spread slurry on heavy covers without soiling the grass severely.
It shouldn’t be too hard to fence the rivers. I have some done already so it will be just a matter of moving stakes out from the bank to maintain the 1.5m distance.
More dairy farmers in this region are becoming interested in GLAS as they realise their farms may be suitable for the scheme without having to make particularly challenging modifications to their current management practices. Farmers in derogation are choosing the low emission slurry spreading and fencing of rivers actions. These two actions allow derogation farmers to maximise the payment rate available in GLAS without having to change the management of their farms radically. I would advise anyone considering picking the low emission slurry spreading action to check that there is a contractor in the area with suitable slurry spreading equipment. For dairy farmers not in derogation with low-stocked out-farms, they can choose options such as low-input permanent pasture or traditional hay meadows. For dairy farmers thinking about making a GLAS III application it is definitely worth considering. If you are in derogation but you have an eligible watercourse it is worth considering also. However it’s best not to leave it until the last minute because advisers need time to make the plan.
Read more
Farmers to be shut out of GLAS
Environment: GLAS III applications flowing in
Donal Cronin is dairy farmer from Clonsillagh, Dromcollogher, Co Cork. Since the abolition of dairy quotas, he has been expanding cow numbers and is now in derogation which permits him to spread more chemical fertiliser on his land than what is normally allowed.
Donal is considering making a GLAS III application because he thinks it will boost his income and will not dramatically affect the way he manages his farm. During the week, Ronan Kennedy, the local GLAS planner from FRS, visited Donal’s farm to explain to him the actions suitable for his farm. The actions Ronan described are designed to tick two boxes:
Increase Donal’s chances of a successful application. Maximise the payment.Currently, Donal gets a contractor to spread some of his slurry using an umbilical system and dribble bar. He used to spread all the slurry himself but now with cow numbers growing he does not have much time for this type of work, especially during the springtime.
By going into GLAS III and selecting the low emission slurry spreading action, Donal will have to spread all the slurry on the farm using either a dribble bar, band spreading or trailing shoe. With a whole-farm stocking rate exceeding 140kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare produced on the holding, Donal’s application will fall into tier I if he chooses this slurry spreading action.
“Given that Donal already spreads some of his slurry using a dribble bar, the low emission slurry spreading option is a natural choice for his application,” explained Ronan.
After checking the online GLAS system Ronan found a number of eligible watercourses on Donal’s farm which would allow him to choose the protection of watercourses action. The protection of watercourses action involves fencing off all watercourses that are identified on the GLAS online system a minimum of 1.5 metres from the top of the bank of the watercourses to exclude bovines by 31 May 2017.
Ronan has also included some minor actions for Donal to consider in his plan. They include planting a grove of native trees, erecting bird, bat and bee boxes and creating a bee habitat with sand.
Table 1 shows the actions Donal now has to consider, the quantities specified for the farm, the payment rate and the total amount of money Donal would receive annually if he chooses the options outlined.
This application is still being drafted and needs the go-ahead from Donal before it is submitted. The deadline for submitting a GLAS III application is 15 December 2016.
I am seriously considering joining the scheme. The way I see it is, I’ll have to get a contractor in to spread all my slurry if the application is successful, but the GLAS payment will more then cover this cost.
With dairy expansion I have less time for jobs like spreading slurry, so bringing in a contractor would free up time for me.
I also like the low emission slurry spreading action because in the spring time I can spread slurry on heavy covers without soiling the grass severely.
It shouldn’t be too hard to fence the rivers. I have some done already so it will be just a matter of moving stakes out from the bank to maintain the 1.5m distance.
More dairy farmers in this region are becoming interested in GLAS as they realise their farms may be suitable for the scheme without having to make particularly challenging modifications to their current management practices. Farmers in derogation are choosing the low emission slurry spreading and fencing of rivers actions. These two actions allow derogation farmers to maximise the payment rate available in GLAS without having to change the management of their farms radically. I would advise anyone considering picking the low emission slurry spreading action to check that there is a contractor in the area with suitable slurry spreading equipment. For dairy farmers not in derogation with low-stocked out-farms, they can choose options such as low-input permanent pasture or traditional hay meadows. For dairy farmers thinking about making a GLAS III application it is definitely worth considering. If you are in derogation but you have an eligible watercourse it is worth considering also. However it’s best not to leave it until the last minute because advisers need time to make the plan.
Read more
Farmers to be shut out of GLAS
Environment: GLAS III applications flowing in
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