Some 20,376 nutrient management plans (NMPs) have been submitted for GLAS I and II applicants, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

The Department is encouraging farmers to submit their plans.

The 2016 balancing payment to GLAS I and GLAS II participants can only be made when the NMP has been submitted.

The Department is continuing to make balancing payments to these farmers and last week made payments to another 1,160 participants worth in the region of €800,000.

The balancing payment represents the final 15% of the 2016 payment and completes the total payment for GLAS actions undertaken last year under GLAS I and II.