The prohibited period for grazing traditional hay meadows (THM) under the Green Low-carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS) started on Wednesday 15 April.

Areas under this measure must remain closed to livestock until 1 July, after which meadows can be mowed. There is in the region of 70,000ha of land under THM.

The maximum chemical nitrogen permitted to be applied on hay meadows is 40kg N/ha or 32 units N/acre.

This is the equivalent, for example, of about 1.15 bags of CAN (27.7 N) or 1.75 bags 18:6:12 per acre, with no restrictions present on the volume of phosphorus and potassium applied.

Hay meadows cannot be topped in the period between 15 March and meadows being harvested, while rush control is permitted after 15 March via spot spraying or weed wiping /licking.

LIPP rules

Low-input permanent pasture (LIPP) is the most common measure selected in GLAS and accounts for some 280,000ha of lands. It has the same nitrogen allowance of 40kg N/ha as THM.

Topping is also not permitted between 15 March and 1 July. It can be carried out before or after this date and, along with spot-spraying or weed wiping/licking, is one of the permitted options for controlling rushes.

Wild bird cover

Wild bird cover was also a popular selection due to the fact that it helped farmers to gain entry to the scheme. There is in the region of 13,800ha of lands sown annually with a wild bird cover crop.

Grazing of crops is currently permitted to help remove vegetation and break up thrash before sowing this year’s crop.

The deadline for sowing wild bird covers is 31 May. It is acceptable to apply weed control pre-sowing, but no pesticides are allowed after sowing the crop. Parcels must remain stock proof again from sowing until 15 March next year.