Farmers who have chosen the rare breed action in GLAS should have returned the rare breed declaration form for 2017 by Tuesday 31 July 2018. The declaration forms are in respect of the 2017 calendar year, as the payment is based on the previous year’s livestock units.

As 2017 is the first year of payment for GLAS III participants, it will establish the baseline units for this action.

For GLAS I and GLAS II participants, this is the second year of their claim. The baseline established in year one of this action must be maintained.

Rare breed livestock units must be maintained at or above this baseline in subsequent years unless there is a satisfactory reason for a reduction in livestock units, according to the Department.