Farmers who have opted for the “wild bird cover” action in GLAS must sow the spring crop by the end of this month in order to realise the €900/ha/year payment.

Speaking at the wild bird cover workshop in Ballydangan, Co Roscommon, last Friday Teagasc advisor Kieran Kenny said: “Oats and linseed would be the mix in most cases because it’s the one you’ll get most success with. It will establish in most situations, even where there are question marks over the quality of the soil.”

The year-one mix must include a cereal with at least one of the following: linseed, oilseed rape or mustard. Meanwhile the year-two mix involves having half the parcel in kale with the other half in cereal. No weed control is allowed after sowing but it is permitted prior to establishment each year.

Fertiliser is allowed at half the rate for the crop, depending on soil results. A typical example would be under index one, where an oats/linseed mix would get 1.75 bags/acre of 10:10:20 or kale would get 2.5 bags/acre.

The crop must be left unharvested so birds can feed on it over the winter months. After 15 March livestock can be turned into the field.