Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

436. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason behind the introduction of 1 July 2018 as the commencement date to allow farmers in the GLAS scheme to cut traditional hay meadows; and his views on whether the views of persons (details supplied) were justified. [31179/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The GLAS Traditional Hay Meadow action promotes the maintenance of a traditional method of forage conservation that is beneficial to grassland flora and fauna. GLAS farmers who have chosen this action commit to the closure of these meadows until July 1st in line with the terms and conditions of the scheme and receive a payment of €315 per hectare per year (up to a maximum of 10 hectares) to compensate for income foregone. Traditional Hay Meadow is one of the key biodiversity measures under the GLAS scheme and will deliver approx. €18 million in payments this year.

In order to alleviate the forage supply problem, one of the initiatives put in place was an extension to the closing date for grazing livestock on land containing the Traditional Hay Meadow action under the scheme and grazing by livestock was permitted up to 1st May this year. It is not possible to bring forward the cutting date as seed dispersal is a key requirement to maintain species diversity. My priority was to ensure that farmers continue to qualify to receive payment for this action. I would also point out that after the July 1st deadline participants are free to cut and conserve the hay as they would with any other field.