The western counties have seen the biggest potential uptake for GLAS looking at the number registered on the online system. The figures show 21,000 have registered but just 13,000 have started to select actions (see map). Each region had different uptake for the scheme and varied greatly in the options chosen. Shane Murphy talks to a number of registered GLAS Consultants (both from Teagasc/Farm Relief Service and private) asking them about the uptake and the most popular options in their locality. After speaking with them, there was obvious frustration about the slowness of the online system. Many are waiting to submit plans that they have validated on the system

Cork

A number of options are being heavily used here depending on the part of Cork. West Cork has seen a large uptake in planting hedgerows as well as a number of tillage farmers acting on wild bird cover. North Cork saw bigger uptakes in low-input permanent pasture and traditional hay meadow. In central Cork, low-emission slurry spreading came out on top. Overall, feedback was positive for uptake of the scheme, although many dairy farmers who came in to look at the options made a decision not to go ahead.

Limerick-Kerry

Uptake for the scheme is relatively good – a lot of the demand was from lowly stocked smaller farms. Typical options for the region were low-input permanent pasture and traditional hay meadow. Farmers with watercourses are picking the option of keeping cattle out.

Galway-Clare

The large number of smaller farmers in the region has led to a very good uptake of the scheme. A large suckler population helped to further increase the uptake, with only the biggest farmers not getting involved. Many are hoping they will get in under Tier 3 this year. Option uptake is varied. As a number of farms are in a hen harrier designated area, this is the clear option for them. Others are going for low-input permanent pasture and traditional hay meadows, while stonewall maintenance is popular also.

Tipperary

Uptake in Tipperary is average as a large number of intensive farmers want to utilise the land and believe the scheme doesn’t allow for this. Most uptake seems to be coming from the drystock sector, with low-input permanent pasture the most popular option.

Waterford-Kilkenny

Uptake throughout the region is good without being great, while those who are applying for the scheme are smaller farmers getting small money back. By far the highest uptake in the area is for traditional hay meadow and low-input permanent pasture. Repairing margin is the only other one that people are showing interest in.

Wexford-Wicklow-Carlow

Uptake is only fair and the feeling is a lot of the applicants won’t make it into the scheme as not enough Tier 1+2 options are being taken. Options that are most popular include low-input permanent pasture and sand for conservation of solitary bees, while there’s low uptake of bird boxes and hedges. A lot of farmers seem to be taking relatively simple measures to receive a payment somewhere between €3,000 and €4,000.

Laois-Kildare-Meath-Louth-Dublin

Numbers seem to be well back from previous similar schemes. Better bigger farmers believe that if they get into the scheme, they won’t be able to utilize land properly. Options most undertaken are low-input permanent pasture and wild bird cover. With a lot of tillage ground in the area, people seem to find wild bird cover to be the easy option for them.

Westmeath-Cavan-Offaly-Monaghan

Getting good uptake in the region, which has a large number of drystock-suckler farmers. Low-input permanent pasture is most in demand. Bird boxes and hedging were looked at as well as planting of native trees. Protection of watercourses is being strongly looked at also.

Roscommon-Longford

Uptake is not as high as expected from a number of consultants, with mostly Tier 3 options being chosen. Most popular are low-input permanent pasture and traditional hay meadows. South Roscommon is seeing good uptake for stone-wall maintenance.

Mayo region

The county with the biggest uptake, with over 2,500 now registered. A lot of commonage farmers are one of the main reasons behind this with the €5,000 payment received if you have 42ha of commonage. The thinking is that lowland hill farmers seem to be getting hard done by due to certain species of grass appearing in potential low-input permanent pasture areas. Some other options being undertaken are sand tip for conservation of solitary bees and traditional hay meadows.

Donegal-Sligo-Leitrim

Overall the three counties are showing moderate uptake. A lot of area is upland grassland and ineligible for the low input permanent pasture as it contains heather, rushes and moss. Stonewall maintenance is getting some attention in Leitrim.

Prices breakdown

Teagasc

Year one

GLAS Plan year one= €435

GLAS Plan and Sustainable management plan (SMP) year one = €440

Year two

Follow-up and nutrient management plan (NMP) = €465

Commonage plans

Charged on “Commonage ha that attracts GLAS payment”

Agricultural Consultants

Year one

Many of the Agricultural consultants seem to be working on a % of payment received. All had a minimal fee in place and this ranged from €200-350. Highest quoted was 18% of payment while most were around 10%.

Year two

Some planners are talking about €400 to €500 excl VAT for the nutrient plan depending on the work involved. Soil samples that will be required are extra. There are no quotes for additional years from many planners.