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Glastir The new £90 million agri-environment scheme to be implemented in Wales will come into effect in January 2012. The initial change over is starting this year through the SAF (Single Application Form) with farmers asked to tick the box to express an interest in the new schemes and showing which fields you would be interested in receiving the payments on. This will not be a binding contract for inclusion into Glastir however interest at this point may be advantageous when coming to consider a five year commitment in 2012 or for transitional payments from other schemes currently in operation. Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal are now closed to new applicants and the new applications into Glastir will commence in January 2012. The Glastir Scheme will in effect replace all current Agri-environment schemes in Wales and place them into broadly two levels the All-Wales and Targeted element. The Organic and Better Woodlands schemes will also be renewed under Glastir and some alterations made. If you are already registered within the Tir Cynnal or Tir Gofal schemes then a transitional year will occur as the old scheme is phased out and the new brought in during 2012 that Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal will not exist in 2013. The scheme will also be applicable to all of Wales and not just the Less Favoured Areas (LFA) and will also be open to Dairy farmers who have previously been unable to claim Tir Mynydd. New Payment Levels The new scheme has a new level of payment that will
amount to Current payment rates are Targeted Element of Glastir Farmers will also be able to apply for a higher level of payment where they have an area of high bio-diversity value. The targeted scheme will require a farmer to already be entered in the all Wales element of Glastir and then apply to joint the Targeted element. This will be aimed at many different items including, Dual Claimants The final alteration under the new scheme will prohibit this type of claim therefore it will not be possible to have dual claimants on an individual area of ground. For example this means that where you may have had the landlord claiming the single farm payment and the tenant claiming the agri-environment scheme payment this will cease to be payable and the tenant who shows “management control and exclusive occupation” will be the only person able to claim the payments for the ground. In effect the tenant or an Owner/Occupier will be able to claim the SFP and any Agri-environment scheme on the ground. For this reason it will be necessary to arrange and organise the alterations to be made to the payments to maintain the full income available to the farmer/tenant or landlord where a dual claim has previously been made. Further Opportunities There will be an annual £5 million capital grant available from 2012 for installation of renewable energy and energy efficient technology. A grant will also be available within NVZ areas to offer assistance with the improvement of manure handling and storage systems and to mitigate diffuse pollution. Conclusion The new scheme is a move closer to that of the English scheme with a higher and lower level. The higher level is achieved through a greater number of points being gained and a more intense management strategy to benefit water quality, carbon emissions and biodiversity. The lower level scheme will promote an all Wales approach where all farms will benefit from a higher payment for simple additions to the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) that are already being observed and implemented to gain the SFP. Useful Links This is only a guide compiled on currently available
information and may change when the final scheme is launched. (E&OE)
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