Tuesday 18 October 2016

Interim Commonage Management Plans



Commonage farmers who joined either GLAS 1 or GLAS 2 made a commitment to participate in a commonage management plan. As part of their GLAS contract these farmers are required to have reached their minimum stocking level by the end of 2016. To do this, it is obvious that these farmers must know what the minimum stock requirement is. To achieve this and to facilitate the release of the the GLAS payment for 2016 the commonage advisor must prepare and submit an Interim Commonage Management Plan. 

This plan will set out the minimum stock numbers that must be held by each GLAS participant by the end of 2016. The other issues relating to maximum stock numbers and management issues such as burning, dumping, seasonal patterns of grazing, invasive species and supplementary feeding will be decided by the full set of GLAS participants (including GLAS 3 applicants) in 2017. 

The interim plan must be signed by each GLAS participant and submitted by the end of October 2016. If this is done the GLAS payment for 2016 will follow within 4- 6 weeks. If the form is not submitted no GLAS payments will issue to any of the participants. If an individual farmer fails to sign the form then no payment will be made to that farmer in 2016.

Due to the very short period of time available, this is going to be very difficult for advisors to manage. The closing date is only 13 days away, it is impossible for us or for  most other advisors to visit each farmer individually to get the interim plan signed. For this reason we are inviting farmers to come into the office to sign up to their plan. The office will be open until 8:00 pm each evening from tomorrow Wednesday October 19th until Thursday October 28th. The office will be closed on Monday October 24th to allow us to hold a clinic in Peacockes Hotel in Maam Cross.

Fergal Monaghan and Thady O Brien will be in Peacockes from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm. Unfortunately due to time constraints if you are unable to attend in Peacockes then you will have to come into Claregalway. Whether you meet us in Maam or at our offices please try to come in early in the day as we anticipate significant queues in the evenings. Payment for the Commonage Management Plan is now due. The amount outstanding must be settled before the interim plan can be signed. 

P.S. There is no need to book an appointment nor do you need to bring anything with you.

The link below will allow you to see a copy of the letter sent by the Dept. of Agriculture to individual advisors informing them of what is now required. 





Tuesday 27 September 2016





Press Release on Interim Commonage Plans 

27 September 2016

CREED ANNOUNCES INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMMONAGE MANAGEMENT PLANS UNDER GLAS

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D. today announced his Department is putting arrangements in place to provide for the submission of interim Commonage Management Plans by the end of October 2016. 

“In order to maximise the numbers of GLAS participants included under the final Commonage Management Plan process my Department is putting arrangements in place to provide for the submission of interim Commonage Management Plans by the end of October 2016. This process will ensure that payments can issue to all eligible GLAS participants at the same time later this year” said Minister Creed.

 The Scheme provides for maximum basic payment of €5,000 per annum to participants on the basis of the range and quantity of environmental actions they deliver as part of their GLAS plan. On the basis of the commitments made by participants under the first two tranches of the Scheme, Commonage Management Plans will be prepared for a significant number of commonages nationally. 

“The Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) launched in 2015 has been a major success with over 38,000 applicants approved for participation in the first two tranches of the Scheme. This represents the highest number of applicants ever approved for participation in an agri-environment scheme in a single year. It has also been extremely successful in the range of actions undertaken by participants in the five year scheme.” concluded Minister Creed. ENDS

Friday 16 September 2016

GLAS 3



One topic that has recurred again and again at our Commonage meetings is the continuing belief that AEOS participants can see out their contracts and then join GLAS. This is incorrect, of course farmers can see out their AEOS contract but they if they choose to do this they must appreciate that the last opportunity to join GLAS will be this Autumn and their decision to stick with AEOS means they will have missed the boat. If you do not join GLAS this Autumn there will be no scheme available to you when your AEOS contract finishes.

Lets look at the impact of this on participants in AEOS 1, 2 & 3 respectively. 

AEOS 1 participants joined that scheme in the summer of 2010, they got a contract running until the end of 2016. They will be finishing that contract this year and can have a seam less transition into GLAS. 

AEOS 2 participants joined that scheme in 2011 and have a contract that will run until the end of 2017, if they stay in AEOS they will lose out on upto €25,000 in GLAS for the sake of a maximum of €4,000 in AEOS.

AEOS 3 participants who choose to stay in that scheme will be opting for a maximum payout in AEOS of €8,000 in preference to upto €25,000 in GLAS. 

Obviously this is a decision for the individual farmer and there may well be other reasons that may  be relevant to them. But from a financial perspective this is a no brainer, if you do not join GLAS this time around the door will have closed on that scheme and you may have to wait for many years before another agri - environment scheme becomes available.

On a separate note we are continuing to make good progress on completing commonage fieldwork. A list of the commonages that we deal with is given below. Of the remaining sites most are commonages with GLAS 2 applicants only and which were only allocated to us in the last few weeks. It remains our intention to have all of these completed  before the end of September. 

County  Commonage Status 
Clare Coastal
Galway  Courhoor Fieldwork Complete
Galway Maw Fieldwork Complete 
Galway Cloughaunard
Galway Doon  Fieldwork Complete 
Galway Fahy
Galway Ballyconneely
Galway Ardkyle Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lettergesh East Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lettergesh East Fieldwork Complete
Galway  Toombeola
Galway Murvey Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cuilleen
Galway Glynsk Fieldwork Complete
Galway Letterdeskert
Galway Ardmore Fieldwork Complete
Galway Callowfinish Fieldwork Complete
Galway Kilkieran Fieldwork Complete
Galway Letterpibrum Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shannawirra Fieldwork Complete
Galway Kylesalia Fieldwork Complete
Galway Loughaconeera Fieldwork Complete
Galway Glennagevlagh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Crumlin East Fieldwork Complete
Galway Dooghta Fieldwork Complete
Galway Ballyweeaun Fieldwork Complete
Galway Boocaun Fieldwork Complete
Galway Glentrasna Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lettermore Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lugganaffrin Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shanvally Fieldwork Complete
Galway Halfcarton Fieldwork Complete
Galway Knockadav Fieldwork Complete
Galway  Oorid Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shannavarra  Fieldwork Complete
Galway Turlough Fieldwork Complete
Galway Turlough Fieldwork Complete
Galway Camus Oughter Fieldwork Complete
Galway Kinvarra Fieldwork Complete
Galway Bealadangan Fieldwork Complete
Galway Bealadangan Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lettercallow Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lettermore Fieldwork Complete
Galway Maumeen Fieldwork Complete
Galway Barraderry Fieldwork Complete
Galway Carrowroe North Fieldwork Complete
Galway Carraroe North Fieldwork Complete
Galway Carrowroe West Fieldwork Complete
Galway Clynagh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Derrynea Fieldwork Complete
Galway Keeraunbeg Fieldwork Complete
Galway Muckanaghederdauhaulia Fieldwork Complete
Galway Ballynahown North Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cartronlahan Fieldwork Complete
Galway Inveran Fieldwork Complete
Galway Knockadoagh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Minna Fieldwork Complete
Galway Minna Fieldwork Complete
Galway Tully Fieldwork Complete
Galway Bovroughaun Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cornarona Fieldwork Complete
Galway Loughaunbeg Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
Galway Boliska Eighter
Galway Killagoola Fieldwork Complete
Galway Newtown Fieldwork Complete
Galway Oghery Fieldwork Complete
Galway Billymore Or Carrowntober Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cloghermore Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cloghermore Fieldwork Complete
Galway Lettercraffroe Fieldwork Complete
Galway Maghera More Fieldwork Complete
Galway Rushveala Fieldwork Complete
Galway Shannadullaghaun Fieldwork Complete
Galway  Callownamuck
Galway Gortacarnaun Fieldwork Complete
Galway Ower
Galway  Derryloughan East 
Galway Coldwood Or Foorkill Fieldwork Complete
Galway  Turloughmore Common Fieldwork Complete
Galway Addergoole Fieldwork Complete
Galway Annaghdown Fieldwork Complete
Galway Barranny Fieldwork Complete
Galway Coteenty Fieldwork Complete
Galway Coteenty Fieldwork Complete
Galway Beagh More Fieldwork Complete
Galway Big Island Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cloghaun Fieldwork Complete
Galway Kilbeg Fieldwork Complete
Galway Gortnagleav Fieldwork Complete
Galway Kilnagappagh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cullenagh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Cullenagh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Derrybrien East Fieldwork Complete
Galway Derrybrien East Fieldwork Complete
Galway Knockauncarragh Fieldwork Complete
Galway Keelderry Fieldwork Complete
Galway Carrigeen East Fieldwork Complete
Galway Carrigeen West Fieldwork Complete
Mayo Glencally Fieldwork Complete
Mayo Erriff Fieldwork Complete
Mayo Letterass Fieldwork Complete
Mayo Lettermaglinskin Fieldwork Complete
Wicklow Brockagh Fieldwork Complete
Wicklow  Seven Churches Fieldwork Complete
Wicklow Cullentragh Big Fieldwork Complete
Sligo Farranaharpy
Tipperary  Curreeny

Wednesday 7 September 2016

Cork 2.0 Declaration

The original Cork Declaration was made 20 years ago, from it developed the Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy and a realisation that Direct Payments to agriculture had to go beyond the production related payments that had existed up until then. The result in Ireland was the roll out of schemes like REPS, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, AEOS, GLAS and TAMS etc. Twenty years on from that date it was felt that this original vision needed to be updated and that a new declaration was needed to guide the development of Rural development Policies in the years ahead. 

It was for this reason that the EU Commission organised the Cork 2.0 conference on September 5th & 6th. Over 300 delegates from all 28 member states, from the EU Commission and with observers from China and the United States attended. The delegates included Farmers, Farmer Representative Organisations, Farm Advisors, Industry Representatives, Ministry of Agriculture Officals, Diplomats and Politicians. I was delighted to be asked to attend, I must stress that it is rare for me to be in such distinguished company.

A very significant number of delegates were from the UK and they made a considerable contribution, Brexit was hardly mentioned even by the UKIP MEP Stuart Agnew, although his opinions on addressing the causes of climate change as opposed to adapting to the impacts of Climate change did not engender much in the way of support. That aside the gathering was workmanlike, positive and productive. 

It would be impossible for me to address all of the many issues that were discussed at the conference but  some of the points that stood out for me include;


  • The need to add value rather that just quantity  to production systmens
  • The need to reconnect the consumer particularly the urban consumer with the food producer,
  • The value of the public goods produced by farmers, e.g. biodiversity, landscape resilience should be considered in the development of RDP policy.
  • Financial Instruments to support RDP policy, particularly the use of loan guarantees and subsidised interest rates as a support mechanism for rural development is likely to grow considerably in the future.
  • That overall funding in the future will be less, but that it should be better focused and that bottom up initiatives and results based programs are the way ahead. My reading of this is that capital schemes like TAMS could well be replaced with low interest loans and that catch all schemes like GLAS have had their day but we will wait and see.  


My overall impression was positive but I believe the next CAP will be very different and that every one involved in agriculture or in rural development will have to adapt to a radical change in policy direction. There will be new opportunities and some of them may well be far better than those that currently exist but I would temper this with a warning that there will be losers as well as winners. 


You can read the entire declaration by following the link below. 



http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/events/2016/rural-development/cork-declaration-2-0_en.pdf



Fergal Monaghan











Wednesday 17 August 2016

Almost there



We will complete the last of the sheep commonages by next week. Overall we have now completed fieldwork on 90.83% of the commonages that have been assigned to us. With the completion of three sites currently in progress we will reach approx 96% of our assigned area by the end of next week.

An intensive round of meetings with farmers on sheep commonages will commence late next week with a view to having all commonage sheep farmers informed of their minimum stocking requirements in advance of the sales. 

C164L1A Clare Coastal
G10222A Galway Maw
G10312A Galway Cloughaunard
G10315A Galway Doon 
G10318B Galway Fahy
G10602B Galway Ballyconneely
G10802a Galway Ardkyle Fieldwork Complete
G10917B Galway Lettergesh East Fieldwork Complete
G10917C Galway Lettergesh East Fieldwork Complete
G11307A Galway Murvey Fieldwork Complete
G11409A Galway Cuilleen
G11413A Galway Glynsk Fieldwork Complete
G11501A Galway Ardmore Fieldwork Complete
G11506A Galway Callowfinish Fieldwork Complete
G11516A Galway Kilkieran In Progress
G11520A Galway Letterpibrum Fieldwork Complete
G11523A Galway Shannawirra Fieldwork Complete
G11615A Galway Kylesalia Fieldwork Complete
G11616A Galway Loughaconeera Fieldwork Complete
G12005A Galway Glennagevlagh Fieldwork Complete
G12213A Galway Crumlin East Fieldwork Complete
G12214A Galway Dooghta Fieldwork Complete
G12309B Galway Ballyweeaun Fieldwork Complete
G12310A Galway Boocaun Fieldwork Complete
G12502A Galway Glentrasna In Progress
G12506A Galway Lettermore Fieldwork Complete
G12507A Galway Lugganaffrin Fieldwork Complete
G12511A Galway Shanvally Fieldwork Complete
G12607A Galway Glencoh
G12616A Galway Knockadav Fieldwork Complete
G12617A Galway  Oorid Fieldwork Complete
G12621A  Galway Shannavarra  Fieldwork Complete
G12623A Galway Turlough Fieldwork Complete
G12623B Galway Turlough Fieldwork Complete
G12702A Galway Camus Oughter Fieldwork Complete
G12705A Galway Kinvarra Fieldwork Complete
G12802A Galway Bealadangan Fieldwork Complete
G12802B Galway Bealadangan Fieldwork Complete
G12815A Galway Lettercallow Fieldwork Complete
G12816B Galway Lettermore Fieldwork Complete
G12915A Galway Maumeen Fieldwork Complete
G13001A Galway Barraderry Fieldwork Complete
G13002A Galway Carrowroe North Fieldwork Complete
G13002b Galway Carraroe North Fieldwork Complete
G13004A Galway Carrowroe West Fieldwork Complete
G13005B Galway Clynagh Fieldwork Complete
G13006A Galway Derrynea Fieldwork Complete
G13014B Galway Keeraunbeg Fieldwork Complete
G13016a Galway Muckanaghederdauhaulia Fieldwork Complete
G13102A Galway Ballynahown North Fieldwork Complete
G13107A Galway Cartronlahan Fieldwork Complete
G13113A Galway Inveran Fieldwork Complete
G13116A Galway Knockadoagh Fieldwork Complete
G13117A Galway Minna Fieldwork Complete
G13117B Galway Minna Fieldwork Complete
G13120B Galway Tully Fieldwork Complete
G13202A Galway Bovroughaun Fieldwork Complete
G13204A Galway Cornarona Fieldwork Complete
G13209A Galway Loughaunbeg Fieldwork Complete
G13210B Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
G13210C Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
G13210D Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
G13303A Galway Boliska Eighter
G13508A Galway Killagoola Fieldwork Complete
G13514B Galway Newtown Fieldwork Complete
G13515B Galway Oghery Fieldwork Complete
G13610A Galway Billymore Or Carrowntober Fieldwork Complete
G13621A Galway Cloghermore Fieldwork Complete
G13621B Galway Cloghermore Fieldwork Complete
G13659a Galway Lettercraffroe Fieldwork Complete
G13662A Galway Maghera More Fieldwork Complete
G13678A Galway Rushveala Fieldwork Complete
G13681A Galway Shannadullaghaun Fieldwork Complete
G13712A Galway Gortacarnaun Fieldwork Complete
G13728A Galway Ower
G14702A Galway Coldwood Or Foorkill Fieldwork Complete
G15901A Galway Addergoole Fieldwork Complete
G15904A Galway Annaghdown Fieldwork Complete
G15907a Galway Barranny Fieldwork Complete
G15913A Galway Coteenty Fieldwork Complete
G15913C Galway Coteenty Fieldwork Complete
G16902A Galway Beagh More Fieldwork Complete
G25301A Galway Big Island Fieldwork Complete
G28106A Galway Cloghaun Fieldwork Complete
G28117A Galway Kilbeg Fieldwork Complete
G28212A Galway Gortnagleav Fieldwork Complete
G28216A Galway Kilnagappagh Fieldwork Complete
G28713A Galway Drumkeary East
G28807A Galway Cullenagh
G28807B Galway Cullenagh Fieldwork Complete
G28901a Galway Derrybrien East
G28901b Galway Derrybrien East
G29106A Galway Knockauncarragh Fieldwork Complete
G30106A Galway Keelderry Fieldwork Complete
G31304a Galway Carrigeen East Fieldwork Complete
G31305A Galway Carrigeen West Fieldwork Complete
P22709A Mayo Glencally Fieldwork Complete
P23303A Mayo Erriff Fieldwork Complete
P23307A Mayo Letterass Fieldwork Complete
P23309A Mayo Lettermaglinskin Fieldwork Complete
Z11401A Wicklow Brockagh Fieldwork Complete
Z11402A Wicklow  Seven Churches In progress
Z13408A Wicklow Carrigoona East
Z13409A Wicklow Carrigoona West
Z13615A Wicklow Cullentragh Big Fieldwork Complete

Wednesday 10 August 2016





Rhododendron establishing on a mountain commonage.

Progress on the assessment of commonages is continuing at a rapid pace. We remain confident about completing the sheep farming commonages by the end of next week and the remaining cattle commonages very early in September. The importance of these field assessments cannot be underestimated.

On site after site issues such as internal fencing, invasive species, uneven grazing distribution and incorrect boundaries have been found. None of these create impossible difficulties and a range of management responses have been prepared for the relevant shareholders to consider. WIthout a thorough field assessment this just would not be possible.

The shareholder meetings have already begun and the level of engagement by the shareholders on these commonage issues has to date been very positive. Our progress on sites for which we have been approved is shown below, if the fieldwork for you commonage has not been completed yet rest assured that we are treating the remaining sites as our top priority and that we will be moving to the next stage of the process on all sites in September. 

You can check on the status of the commonages that you are involved in

C164L1A Clare Coastal
G10222A Galway Maw
G10312A Galway Cloughaunard
G10315A Galway Doon 
G10318B Galway Fahy
G10602B Galway Ballyconneely
G10802a Galway Ardkyle Fieldwork Complete
G10917B Galway Lettergesh East Fieldwork Complete
G10917C Galway Lettergesh East Fieldwork Complete
G11307A Galway Murvey Fieldwork Complete
G11409A Galway Cuilleen
G11413A Galway Glynsk Fieldwork Complete
G11501A Galway Ardmore Fieldwork Complete
G11506A Galway Callowfinish In Progress
G11516A Galway Kilkieran In Progress
G11520A Galway Letterpibrum In Progress
G11523A Galway Shannawirra In Progress
G11615A Galway Kylesalia Fieldwork Complete
G11616A Galway Loughaconeera Fieldwork Complete
G12005A Galway Glennagevlagh Fieldwork Complete
G12213A Galway Crumlin East Fieldwork Complete
G12214A Galway Dooghta Fieldwork Complete
G12309B Galway Ballyweeaun Fieldwork Complete
G12310A Galway Boocaun Fieldwork Complete
G12502A Galway Glentrasna Fieldwork Complete
G12506A Galway Lettermore Fieldwork Complete
G12507A Galway Lugganaffrin Fieldwork Complete
G12511A Galway Shanvally Fieldwork Complete
G12607A Galway Glencoh
G12609A Galway Halfcarton
G12616A Galway Knockadav Fieldwork Complete
G12617A Galway  Oorid
G12621A  Galway Shannavarra 
G12623A Galway Turlough Fieldwork Complete
G12623B Galway Turlough Fieldwork Complete
G12702A Galway Camus Oughter Fieldwork Complete
G12705A Galway Kinvarra Fieldwork Complete
G12802A Galway Bealadangan Fieldwork Complete
G12802B Galway Bealadangan Fieldwork Complete
G12815A Galway Lettercallow Fieldwork Complete
G12816B Galway Lettermore Fieldwork Complete
G12915A Galway Maumeen Fieldwork Complete
G13001A Galway Barraderry Fieldwork Complete
G13002A Galway Carrowroe North Fieldwork Complete
G13002b Galway Carraroe North Fieldwork Complete
G13004A Galway Carrowroe West Fieldwork Complete
G13005B Galway Clynagh Fieldwork Complete
G13006A Galway Derrynea Fieldwork Complete
G13014B Galway Keeraunbeg Fieldwork Complete
G13016a Galway Muckanaghederdauhaulia Fieldwork Complete
G13102A Galway Ballynahown North Fieldwork Complete
G13107A Galway Cartronlahan Fieldwork Complete
G13110A Galway Derroogh South
G13113A Galway Inveran Fieldwork Complete
G13116A Galway Knockadoagh Fieldwork Complete
G13117A Galway Minna Fieldwork Complete
G13117B Galway Minna Fieldwork Complete
G13120B Galway Tully Fieldwork Complete
G13202A Galway Bovroughaun Fieldwork Complete
G13204A Galway Cornarona Fieldwork Complete
G13209A Galway Loughaunbeg Fieldwork Complete
G13210B Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
G13210C Galway Shannapheasteen Fieldwork Complete
G13303A Galway Boliska Eighter
G13508A Galway Killagoola Fieldwork Complete
G13514B Galway Newtown Fieldwork Complete
G13515B Galway Oghery Fieldwork Complete
G13610A Galway Billymore Or Carrowntober Fieldwork Complete
G13621A Galway Cloghermore Fieldwork Complete
G13621B Galway Cloghermore Fieldwork Complete
G13659a Galway Lettercraffroe Fieldwork Complete
G13662A Galway Maghera More Fieldwork Complete
G13678A Galway Rushveala Fieldwork Complete
G13681A Galway Shannadullaghaun Fieldwork Complete
G13712A Galway Gortacarnaun Fieldwork Complete
G13728A Galway Ower
G14702A Galway Coldwood Or Foorkill Fieldwork Complete
G15901A Galway Addergoole Fieldwork Complete
G15904A Galway Annaghdown Fieldwork Complete
G15907a Galway Barranny Fieldwork Complete
G15913A Galway Coteenty Fieldwork Complete
G15913C Galway Coteenty Fieldwork Complete
G16902A Galway Beagh More Fieldwork Complete
G25301A Galway Big Island Fieldwork Complete
G28106A Galway Cloghaun Fieldwork Complete
G28117A Galway Kilbeg Fieldwork Complete
G28212A Galway Gortnagleav Fieldwork Complete
G28216A Galway Kilnagappagh Fieldwork Complete
G28713A Galway Drumkeary East
G28807A Galway Cullenagh Fieldwork Complete
G28807B Galway Cullenagh
G28901a Galway Derrybrien East
G28901b Galway Derrybrien East
G29106A Galway Knockauncarragh Fieldwork Complete
G30106A Galway Keelderry Fieldwork Complete
G31304a Galway Carrigeen East Fieldwork Complete
G31305A Galway Carrigeen West Fieldwork Complete
P22709A Mayo Glencally Fieldwork Complete
P23303A Mayo Erriff Fieldwork Complete
P23307A Mayo Letterass Fieldwork Complete
P23309A Mayo Lettermaglinskin Fieldwork Complete
Z11401A Wicklow Brockagh Fieldwork Complete
Z11402A Wicklow  Seven Churches
Z13408A Wicklow Carrigoona East
Z13409A Wicklow Carrigoona West
Z13615A Wicklow Cullentragh Big Fieldwork Complete