Glastir Application Period Delayed

The Welsh Assembly Government has, this week, announced that the application window for joining the All-Wales Element of Glastir is to be deferred.

Application packs to join the All-Wales Element of Glastir will now be issued from 4 October 2010 and applicants will have until 22 November 2010, to return their completed application forms.

Speaking at the Meirionnydd County Show, NFU Cymru’s President, Ed Bailey, said, “The decision to defer the application period is symptomatic of the whole development process of Glastir. As insufficient spade-work was undertaken before the new scheme was launched it is continually being revisited and revised and the original date for applications is now also being delayed, so that new options requiring changes to be made to the pre-populated Glastir application packs can be carried out.

Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru President

“Whilst NFU Cymru feels that the revised application period is more timely in terms of the on-farm pressures facing farmers, when the Union had pressed for a later application period during the consultation phase all sorts of arguments had then been presented by the Welsh Assembly Government as to why this wasn’t possible and yet it is now a case of needs must! The Union still feels however that it will be difficult for farmers to source the help they need in such a short application window.”

Surgeries will be held by the Welsh Assembly Government to guide farmers through the All-Wales Element of the Glastir application process. For those farmers requiring assistance with form completion, NFU Cymru has made arrangements with FWAG Cymru to assist members. Members requiring such assistance should contact their local NFU Cymru Group Secretary as soon as possible to ensure that their needs are prioritised with FWAG Cymru.