With just days left to the deadline for GLAS II on Monday 14 December, the number of farmers entering the scheme looks set to be over the 13,000 places allocated.

Earlier this week there were 17,000 plans established on the Department online application system. More importantly, nearly 6,000 applications had been submitted and, with advisers now focusing on finalising plans, the number is set to more than double in the coming days.

The latest figures from the Department show that 43% of farmers with plans created online are in Tier 1, with 21% of plans in Tier 2. However, over one-third (36%), are in Tier 3. As these are uncompleted applications, some Tier 2 and Tier 3 applicants may yet promote themselves to a higher tier by choosing actions such as wild bird cover or low-emission slurry spreading. The Department is strongly advising Tier 3 candidates in particular to choose options that would promote them to Tier 2. The reason is that if the scheme is oversubscribed, farmers who have submitted plans under Tier 3 run the risk of not gaining access under this tranche of the scheme.

Some 26,200 farmers will get their GLAS I payment next week, with the average payment being in the region of €800. Only 60 farmers who applied to GLAS I were refused entry into the scheme.