Farmers participating in the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS) are permitted to graze wild bird cover crops since Tuesday 15 March.

The allowance to graze these crops is viewed as aiding preparation for this year’s crops through animals consuming vegetation present or breaking down any thrash or stalks.

The opening of the allowance to graze crops comes at a good time, with recent rainfall leading to tricky ground conditions for turning cows and calves or cattle outdoors.

These areas may provide a reprieve and allow farmers to get stock outdoors, with poaching concerns not as evident due to the fact the area will be subsequently tilled.

Deadline

The deadline for replanting is 31 May 2022. 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.

Farmers have two options – sow a one-year or two-year mix.

The one-year mix must contain a cereal (oats, barley, wheat or triticale) and at least one species from the following: oilseed rape, linseed and mustard.

The two-year mix must contain a cereal (oats, barley, wheat or triticale) and kale.

It is unlikely that there will be a high percentage of two-year mixes sown this year due to the fact that the GLAS scheme is due to end on 31 December 2022 in advance of the introduction of the Agriculture and Environment Climate Measure in 2023.