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IFA rural development chair Joe Brady has called on Minister Creed to allow farmers who have the traditional hay meadow measure in GLAS to cut their meadows now, rather wait until 1 July.
“The excellent weather and ground conditions at the moment are ideal for cutting to take place now," Brady said. "This will ensure farmers can maximise fodder conservation, which is critical following the significant depletion of fodder stocks last winter and spring”.
Joe Brady said land is now in good condition to conserve fodder, adding that this could change quickly, particularly on heavy soils.
Derogation
The ICSA is also calling on the Minister of Agriculture for such an amendment. Rural development chair Seamus Sherlock has called for a derogation to allow GLAS farmers with traditional hay meadow to mow hay over the coming days.
Sherlock said that although the traditional hay meadow measure is well meaning, “it is unconscionable that for the sake of a few days we would prevent farmers from making hay while the sun shines.”
“We do not want farmers to risk losing GLAS money for a breach of regulation, but we have to have some common sense applied,” he added.
'Common sense'
Politicians are also in on the act, with Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesman Charlie McConalogue calling for "common sense" in allowing traditional hay meadow cutting through a "quick and timely decision".
Deputy McConalogue added: "Flexibility is also required from the Department to allow farmers to save fodder from any additional grasses on low input permanent (LIP) pasture swards under the GLAS Scheme."
According to him, a derogation should apply to the rule stating that no excess toppings from LIP swards can be saved before 1 July.
Offaly/north Tipperary TD Carol Nolan asked the Department to allow farmers take advantage of the current clement weather. Deputy Nolan has stated that “it seems reasonable that the minister would make an exception to the 1 July deadline and bring forth the harvesting date”.
Earlier this year, as a result of the extremely harsh winter and spring, the minister permitted an extension to the closing date for grazing livestock on traditional hay meadows from 15 April to 1 May.
According to Deputy McConalogue, earlier mowing was authorised under the AEOS scheme in 2013 to replenish fodder stocks after shortages that year.
No change for now
In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal this Friday evening, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson said that the position remains that farmers with GLAS traditional hay meadows "have to maintain the meadow without cutting until next Sunday (1 July)".
"Farmers who do this action are compensated for doing so – they receive €315 per hectare for this measure and some farmers receive up €3,150 by bringing in 10 hectares. In total, these farmers will be paid at least €8m this year for this one action," the spokesperson added.
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