Of the 5,537 participants involved in GLAS in Mayo, some 1,234 or 22% of these farmers are yet to receive their 85% advance payment.

In total, there are still 8,580 farmers involved in GLAS who have not yet received their 2017 advance payments. Farmers had to go through similar payment issues with GLAS 12 months ago, with 10,000 farmers still waiting on 2016 advance payments on 28 January 2017.

In addition to these 8,580 farmers awaiting GLAS payments, an additional 370 farmers are awaiting AEOS payments, while 530 organic farmers are also waiting on payments. This brings to a total of close to 9,500 farmers currently waiting on vital payments from the Department.

With payments initially beginning to farmers nearly two months ago, the delays in getting monies paid is putting an increased financial burden on farmers. Concerns have been raised by advisers that the same schemes are experiencing delayed payments every year, with these schemes predominantly benefitting farmers in low-income sectors.

AEOS farmers waiting on payments

Of the 2,246 farmers still in Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS) III, some 370 have yet to be paid in relation to 2017 scheme year payments. These cases will be resolved on an ongoing basis as issues are resolved, with approximately €1m yet to be issued.

For the farmers who are currently in AEOS III, they will have to wait until 2020 at the earliest before they can gain access to a new scheme. All AEOS farmers were given the opportunity to transfer to GLAS and end their AEOS contracts without any penalty. However, some farmers chose to stay in AEOS.

Permitted to graze catch crops

Farmers who availed of the extension to plant GLAS catch crops between 30 September and 28 October 2017 are now permitted to graze these crops.

The requirement was to keep these in situ until 31 January 2018. It is important that animals are introduced to the crop slowly to avoid digestive upsets.