The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed has been called on to ensure that all eligible farmers are accepted in to GLAS III.

ICSA Rural Development Chairman Seamus Sherlock has said he hopes Minister Creed will allow all eligible farmers who have applied to the third tranche of GLAS to participate in the scheme.

“GLAS has proven to be a hugely popular scheme and the signals are that it has been once again oversubscribed by a significant number.

The scheme is vital for farmers and with farming incomes so low across all sectors, this payment is a much needed boost to assist farmers with their cash flow.

“I would urge Minister Creed to make every effort not to deny eligible farmers from this much needed income source as it can make a real difference in the lives of farming families,” he said.

Last week, the Department of Agriculture told Agriland that it has no plans to extend the closing date of GLAS 3 past the December 15 closing date.

On the number of applications that will be accepted into tranche 3 of the Green Low-carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS), the Department has said it will not decide on the number until the scheme had closed for applications.

It is anticipated that approval letters, informing farmers of their acceptance into the scheme, will issue before the end of January 2017 for approval into the scheme with effect from January, 1, 2017.

Meanwhile, farmers who participated in GLAS I and GLAS II are to receive a welcome cash boost from today, with GLAS payments expected to issue.

Earlier this year the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said that payments under the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) would issue in December.

Some 85% of payments under GLAS 1 and 2 are to commence today, according to a spokesperson from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) who has been in contact with Department of Agriculture officials.