Glas Priority Measures

agriman27

Are many grassland farmers on here going to do the priority measures such as the wild bird cover or the low emission slurry spreading to try and get into tier 2 of the scheme to get up the priority list to be sure of getting into the scheme. I'm in a fairly good position to enter the scheme but I'm not sure whether to go ahead and plant the wild bird cover because I don't want to sacrifice a hectare of grass for five years which I really need, but I think the scheme is a good opportunity too.

kelslat

agriman27 wrote: »

Are many grassland farmers on here going to do the priority measures such as the wild bird cover or the low emission slurry spreading to try and get into tier 2 of the scheme to get up the priority list to be sure of getting into the scheme. I'm in a fairly good position to enter the scheme but I'm not sure whether to go ahead and plant the wild bird cover because I don't want to sacrifice a hectare of grass for five years which I really need, but I think the scheme is a good opportunity too.

I am signing up to do one hectare of wild bird cover also just to get up to tier 2. I could pick other measures to bring me up to the €5,000 and I wouldn't have the expense of sowing WBC crop every year. I am lucky that my stocking rate isn't high and I can sacrifice the hectare for the scheme. Only thing is if I didn't pick WBC and stayed in tier 3 would I still get in?

20silkcut

How long does the crop last ?
Sow it in spring 2016 leave it un harvested what happens in spring 2017? Has it to be cleaned up and sown again?
That would cost a few quid.

agriman27

kelslat wrote: »

I am signing up to do one hectare of wild bird cover also just to get up to tier 2. I could pick other measures to bring me up to the €5,000 and I wouldn't have the expense of sowing WBC crop every year. I am lucky that my stocking rate isn't high and I can sacrifice the hectare for the scheme. Only thing is if I didn't pick WBC and stayed in tier 3 would I still get in?

That's exactly what I'm thinking, is it worth the risk of not sowing the wild bird cover and chance getting under tier 3. Suppose it depends on how many farmers apply for glas

ganmo

A neighbour put in WBC for their reps, planted it and all...shaggin birds ate the seed before the crop could grow so had to hand back the money...some dose

So won't be doin that and no slurry here so stuck in tier 3

agriman27

20silkcut wrote: »

How long does the crop last ?
Sow it in spring 2016 leave it un harvested what happens in spring 2017? Has it to be cleaned up and sown again?
That would cost a few quid.

The crop has to be cultivated and re sown every year of the scheme in April or May, I've been told you must make a fairly good attempt to sow it properly even meant to spread fertiliser to get it going.Probably have to plough the first time and disc it up every year after. I don't know if I'll bother with it and just chance it as a tier 3 applicant

20silkcut

agriman27 wrote: »

The crop has to be cultivated and re sown every year of the scheme in April or May, I've been told you must make a fairly good attempt to sow it properly even meant to spread fertiliser to get it going.Probably have to plough the first time and disc it up every year after. I don't know if I'll bother with it and just chance it as a tier 3 applicant

Would you lose DAS on that ground then considering it's not forage?

Comic Book Guy

20silkcut wrote: »

Would you lose DAS on that ground then considering it's not forage?

Eligible for DAS in 2015 but not after that for term on your contract.

Think ya have to do one half of the field in oats and other half in the likes of mustard, kale as a 2 year mix, come the second year ya have to replace the oats by discing etc. but the othe crop is a biennial so is fine.

As other posters said if the crop doesn't take that great ya have to do the whole job again or be liable for penalties.

Was going to give it a go but think I will pass up this time round and hope to get in as tier 3 cause I don't think the advisor man power is there for it to be fully subscribed to. If Im wrong the second tranche will be there in September when I will prob have to put it down.

20silkcut

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Eligible for DAS in 2015 but not after that for term on your contract.

Think ya have to do one half of the field in oats and other half in the likes of mustard, kale as a 2 year mix, come the second year ya have to replace the oats by discing etc. but the othe crop is a biennial so is fine.

As other posters said if the crop doesn't take that great ya have to do the whole job again or be liable for penalties.

Was going to give it a go but think I will pass up this time round and hope to get in as tier 3 cause I don't think the advisor man power is there for it to be fully subscribed to. If Im wrong the second tranche will be there in September when I will prob have to put it down.

My god it's really not that attractive an option at all.

Between the cost of sowing the cost of cleaning the cost of re-sowing and then the loss of DAS not to mention how dirty it would all look for most of the year. Not to mention the extra birds it would attract around the place.
Who came up with this ?
Farming really is in a poor poor state when this sort of nonsense is peddled as a land use option.

newholland mad

ganmo wrote: »

A neighbour put in WBC for their reps, planted it and all...shaggin birds ate the seed before the crop could grow so had to hand back the money...some dose

So won't be doin that and no slurry here so stuck in tier 3

It has to be treated like any other crop ie. you mind it. Just keep an eye on it for 2 weeks after sowing and thats it,doesnt cost much to fire a few shots. Its hardly rocket science to keep birds off a hectare if thats the only problem people con see in glas

Capercaillie

20silkcut wrote: »

My god it's really not that attractive an option at all.

Between the cost of sowing the cost of cleaning the cost of re-sowing and then the loss of DAS not to mention how dirty it would all look for most of the year. Not to mention the extra birds it would attract around the place.
Who came up with this ?
Farming really is in a poor poor state when this sort of nonsense is peddled as a land use option.

To try and assist threatened farmland species of birds. It is an agri-environmental scheme after all.

TUBBY

Would WBC come up on moory ground that water logs in winter and is rushy.

Capercaillie

TUBBY wrote: »

Would WBC come up on moory ground that water logs in winter and is rushy.

My farm planner grows tillage crops in Lough Boora for Grey Partridge. They grow kale/barley on cut-over bog, difficult even when the place is reasonably drained.

TUBBY

Capercaillie wrote: »

My farm planner grows tillage crops in Lough Boora for Grey Partridge. They grow kale/barley on cut-over bog, difficult even when the place is reasonably drained.

is it growing or just growing on paper.

Capercaillie

TUBBY wrote: »

is it growing or just growing on paper.

Growing.

20silkcut

Capercaillie wrote: »

To try and assist threatened farmland species of birds. It is an agri-environmental scheme after all.

Of course yes but it is not costed correctly IMO for what is a serious bit of tillage work.

Capercaillie

20silkcut wrote: »

Of course yes but it is not costed correctly IMO for what is a serious bit of tillage work.

I got contractor to spray/plough/rotovate 0.5 acre for 150 euro. Not that expensive.

paddysdream

20silkcut wrote: »

Of course yes but it is not costed correctly IMO for what is a serious bit of tillage work.

To plough and sow 1 hectare of oats/linseed would cost an awful lot less than the 900 per year Glas pays for the same.
At current grain prices this return would be the same as selling 2.5 tons of Barley per acre without any spray or harvesting costs.No cereal crop would or could return anything like the margin available from a hectare of wild bird cover in Glas and this can be sown on your poorest,most unproductive land.No brainer I would think

paddysdream

Annual crop is better than a biannual one ie sow it every year.
Has to be sowed by May 31st every year and you can let stock into graze from March 16th the following year.

Maybe plough and sow in year 1 then graze to clear and quick belt of disc and broadcast seed with fert. spreader after that.No big cost involved.

Should grow without fert(but prob. not all that well).Unsure if you can "officially" spray for weeds but imagine you would be limited to spot treatment with a knapsack(provided you have done the required course!!!)