Farm Advisory System Training February 2016

GLAS – Actions covered Permanent Pasture (LIPP) Low-input Permanent pasture (LIPP) Traditional Dry Stone Wall Maintenance Traditional Hay Meadow From the outset treat as new actions (Tier 3)

General provisions Must be on a selected LPIS with a UAA Ensure that the action entered is suitable Land must be controlled by applicant with a fence in place for split LPIS when contract commences Natura payments can be forgone in designated areas (cant get both)

Differences in GLAS 1 & 2 GLAS 1GLAS 2 Payment rateSame Max area (THM)10 Ha Max area (LIPP)10 Ha5 Ha Stone wallsSame No cross compensation between LIPP & THM, with an overall max area of 10 Ha

Actions AREA OPTIONS Low Input Permanent Pasture (LIPP) €314/Ha Traditional Hay Meadow (THM) - €315/Ha 10 Ha combined ceilin g LINEAR OPTION Traditional Dry Stone Wall Maintenance - €0.70/m (10m min/4,000m max)

Low-input Permanent Pasture (LIPP) Objective: To promote a grassland management system via appropriate grazing and fertiliser practices for a more diverse sward Criteria: Participants must have a grazing enterprise of owned livestock Farmers seeking a nitrates derogation at any stage will be ineligible

LIPP Requirements A forage parcel for the previous 8 years Must be delivered on a full or split LPIS, which have been marked on application and digitised accordingly Minimum of 4 grass species (excl PR/IR*) and 3 other non- grass species (excl heather) which are dispersed throughout the LPIS Cannot be topped between 15 March & 15 July or cut for hay/silage * Must be less than 30% cover

LPIS Identification (WP/PP)

Action Requirements (contd) Max application 40 Kgs/Ha of chemical N Lime and P can be applied based on soil analysis/NMP (SI 31/2014) No drainage/reclamation permitted, but blocked existing drains may be cleaned with minimal disturbance Pesticides not permitted, with an exception for spot treatments Supplementary meal feeding allowed once points moved and does not impact on a designated Natura site Must meet the BPS eligibility criteria

Heather Heather is a non-grass species (Circular 10/2015)

Rushes Can be controlled mechanically, by weed wiper, or spot spray when present Wiping & Spot spraying allowed between 15 th March & 15 July Topping prohibited in this period

Traditional Hay Meadows Objective: To promote a traditional method of forage conservation that is beneficial to grassland flora & fauna Similar requirements as LIPP regarding Nitrates, lime, P and the 8 year forage rule Delivered on both Whole & part parcel (WP/PP) basis

Action Requirements Must contain a minimum of 3 grass species, where the entire area can be mowed by a tractor mower* Cant be grazed between 15 th April & 1 July No topping between 15 March & mowing Must be mown after 1 July, with grass turned at least twice (also applies in extreme years if silage being made) Supplementary feeding can take place provided troughs are moved to avoid poaching, with an additional requirements for Natura lands

Ryegrass 30% tolerance for LIPP & 50% tolerance for THM

LIPP & THM

LIPP & THM Species Grass Species Bent, Cocksfoot, Fescue, Meadow grass, sweet vernal, timothy, Yorkshire fog Non-Grass Species Angelica, Bog cotton, Dead nettle, knapweed, meadow sweet, Ox-eye daisy, Iris, sorrel, Plantain, Trefoil, willow herd, yarrow, vetch

Hay - grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder

Traditional Dry Stone Wall Maintenance Stone wall must be accessible, freestanding and visible for maintenance (no scrub) Location & length must be identified on a LPIS and marked on a map, with a 10m min Fallen sections must be rebuilt and fallen stones replaced in the relevant style External farm walls attract a half rate payment, (cross compensation not permitted)

What is a Traditional Dry Stone Wall? Dry Stone is a building method where the feature is constructed without the use of mortar The structural integrity arises from compression forces and the interlocking of stones Dry stone walls are characteristic of areas where rock outcrops naturally or large stones exist in quantity in the soil

Traditional Dry Stone Wall Maintenance Conditions are too harsh for hedges capable of retaining livestock to be grown as reliable field boundaries Several methods of constructing dry stone walls, depending on the quantity and type of stones available

Maintain traditional freestanding dry stone walls

Stone wall issues

Find the Wall

Boulders

A Stone Wall ?

Wall selection

But on a closer look

And finally

Thank you for your attention Gary O’Donnell, RI (North West Region) Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim