Farmers coming to the end of their transitional agri-environment agreements were today urged by the Farmers' Union of Wales to start thinking about their Glastir applications.
To ensure they are not left in a vacuum between the ending of their existing contracts and the beginning of the new, farmers should be starting to consider whether they need to obtain an application form, or book a consultant to visit the farm, to help assess the necessary points required to enter the scheme.
"Farmers who wish to be considered for the Glastir Advanced Element in addition to the basic scheme should ensure that their applications are submitted as early as possible in 2013 to allow time for the necessary farm visits and contracts to be drawn up," said FUW deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.
"There is also likely to be great demand for the services of farm consultants next year as many farmers come to the end of their transitional arrangements and so we are urging farmers to think ahead now and contact Farming Connect or their own advisers to ensure that they are able to submit their applications in sufficient time," she added.