The “vast majority” of farmers in the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) have applied to extend their contracts for 2021, according to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The deadline for applications for both of these schemes – with both offering one-year extensions – was Thursday, December 31.
A high uptake to date was also noted in the replies on the extension of contracts under the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) which closes on next week on Friday, January 15.
- 98% of GLAS I and II participants responded by the deadline and of these, 98% applied to continue in the scheme for an additional year (2021);
- 97% of OFS participants responded by the deadline and of these, 97% applied to continue in the scheme for an additional year (2021);
- 52% of BDGP participants have responded to date and of these 97% have applied to continue in the scheme for 2021.
Commenting on the matter, and noting the high level of interest in remaining in the schemes, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said:
“As I’ve said previously, these three schemes play an important role in Irish agriculture, notably in our climate, organic and sustainable beef production agendas.
“I am pleased to see the significant numbers who are going to continue to participate in the schemes in 2021 while the new CAP is being finalised.”
Noting that he is “glad to see that so many have availed of the opportunity to extend their contracts for 2021”, the minister concluded, stating: “I also wish to remind those participants in BDGP who have not replied to date that the deadline for their responses is 15th January 2021.”