The first GLAS balancing payments for farmers participating in tranches I and II of the scheme have started to flow in after months of waiting.

Last Friday, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said that almost €10m in GLAS balancing payments issued to 15,000 farmers. The balancing payment makes up the final 15% due to farmers for their participation in the scheme in 2016. However, there are 36,700 farmers in GLAS I and II, which means 21,700 farmers are still waiting on a balancing payment.

In a statement, the minister said farmers cannot receive payment until a farm nutrient management plan is submitted (NMP) to the Department.

He said “it was made one of the core actions, due to the significant economic and environmental benefits which an NMP can have for a farmer in determining how best to manage their holding.”

Some farmers and advisers have expressed frustration with the rules because the online facility for submitting plans was delayed for months.

The system, which was supposed to be up and running in 2016, was delayed until 23 May, at which point the Department called for all NMPs to be submitted by 15 June.

Commonage management

The deadline for the submission of commonage management plans (CMP) has been extended to 31 October 2017.

The Department has said it is finalising the development of the online system and will notify advisers when it is open to upload and submit plans.

According to the Department, this extension relates to the capture and submission on the online system of the CMPs GLAS advisers have prepared for the >10ha commonages they are assigned to and commonage framework plans prepared for their clients who have <10ha commonage(s).

In October of last year, so that commonage farmers in GLAS would receive payment, the Department introduced interim arrangements.