Hill deal could be closer to solution

CLEARANCE for individual commonage farmers to apply for the new GLAS environmental scheme will be the key to resolving the dispute between the Hill Farmers for Action group and the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney.

According to the Hill Farmers for Action group, the turnout of around 2,000 people for their demonstration outside the office of Taoiseach Enda Kenny last Friday in Castlebar, helped to drive home the message on the need for change to the GLAS requirements for hill farmers.

Brendan Joyce of the Hill Farmers for Action group, told the Farming Tribune that the way needed to be cleared for individual farmers to make applications for inclusion in the GLAS scheme with reference to a commonage management plan to be commissioned and paid for by the Dept. of Agriculture.

“At the end of the day, there are only about 4,000 commonages spread across the country and this would not result in any major outlay for the Dept. of Agriculture.

“We want as many hill/commonage farmers as possible to get into GLAS but changes must be made to make entry to the scheme far more accessible,” said Brendan Joyce.

He said that following a meeting with Minister Coveney last week in Dublin, the Hill Farmers for Action group welcomed an acknowledgement from Minister Coveney that the required minimum activity clause on marginal land to draw down the Single Payment, was not a requirement of the EU.

Mr. Joyce also pointed out that the EU Commission had submitted a specific question back to the Irish Government (out of a total of 266) on the need for the 50% collective agreement

Galway West TD Seán Kyne said that he welcomed some of the comments of the Agriculture Minister following last week’s meeting.

“This includes the decision to move away from a stocking density requirement under Pillar 1 for commonage farmers who will instead be required to ensure that land is maintained in  good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) in order to be eligible for payment.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.