Welsh Assembly Government Farming Connect Glastir events

Provided in partnership by

The Welsh Assembly Government, IBERS (Aberystwyth University), FWAG Cymru and Pembrokeshire College

Forty on farm events (Cymraeg) across Wales between 14 June and 30 September 2010 outlining the All Wales element (Cymraeg) of Glastir

Glastir News

Glastir, the new sustainable land management scheme for Wales will pay farmers to deliver specified environmental goods and services.

Glastir has a number of elements:

• the All Wales element (AWE)
• the Targeted element (TE)
• the Agricultural Carbon Reduction and Efficiencies Scheme (ACRES)
• the All Wales Common land element

To access these different elements you must have an All Wales element contract, however the Common land element is a stand alone element of Glastir. Additional information is available from www.wales.gov.uk/glastir

The All Wales element comprises:

• The Whole Farm Code (WFC) (Cymraeg) – this applies to all the land a farmer enters into his Glastir contract with the Welsh assembly Government;
• Management options – farmers will be able to select from a range of 39 options (Cymraeg), choosing those best suited to the farm and farm business.

The Targeted element sets out to address six areas of concern:

• Soil carbon management
• Water quality
• Water quantity management
• Biodiversity
• Historic environment
• Improving access

ACRES is a capital grant aimed at improving resource and business efficiency and reducing the carbon equivalent emissions of agricultural and horticultural holdings.

The All Wales Common land element is available to farmers who jointly manage areas of land, including Common land and who are prepared to join together to establish a Grazing Association.

The Grazing Association must select one of two management options:

• A closed period of 3 continuous months in a 5 month period between November and March; or
• Minimum and maximum stocking densities tailored to each common with monthly diaries maintained by each farmer within the Association to record the movement of stock.

Additional information on the All Wales element as well as the Targeted element, ACRES and the All Wales Common land element is available at www.wales.gov.uk/glastir, your Divisional office and Gwlad magazine. If you do not currently receive a copy of Gwlad please speak to a member of staff at this event or contact your Divisional office.

This event is one event of many that the Assembly Government is delivering to support farmers through the Glastir application process. In addition to the on farm events, the Farm Liaison Service will be arranging Glastir “surgeries” across Wales later in the year. Further details will be available shortly.

Aim of the event:

To enable farmers to:

• Understand the All Wales Element (AWE) of Glastir, including the Whole Farm Code and the 39 All Wales element management options available;
• Be able to differentiate between agriculturally improved and habitat land;
• Be able to assess the suitability of relevant management options (from the 39 in AWE) on own holdings.
• Accurately identify specific habitat land and to measure areas / part parcels in order to complete applications.

In addition to this and other training, the Welsh Assembly Government is producing a DVD which will be available at the Royal Welsh show outlining the 39 All Wales element management options and how they may apply to your farm. Included with the DVD will be the electronic scorecards developed to help farmers identify the options that best suit their farming business.

Key dates: