Skip to Main Content

Game Development

Game Development

Game Crop - Glas Cover Crop - Wild Bird Cover Crop

One of the most important aspects of the conservation works carried out by gun clubs and their members is that of sowing cover crops. There are a number of different methods used and different crops used. When the GLAS Scheme was introduced the farmer got paid for sowing certain cover crops depending on the particular scheme they were in.These crops were highly beneficial to the conservation of all bird life but especially game birds. It provided two of the main stable items required by game birds, food and shelter. 

GLAS is the new agri-environment scheme, part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. GLAS achieves the objectives of Articles 28 and 30 of the Rural Development Regulation and ties in with the green vision for Irish agriculture as contained in Food Harvest 2020 and as promoted by Bord Bia in the Origin Green campaign.

The scheme is green as it preserves our traditional hay meadows and low-input pastures; low-carbon as it retains the carbon stocks in soil through margins, habitat preservation and practices such as minimum tillage; and, agri-environment as it promotes agricultural actions, which introduce or continue to apply agricultural production methods compatible with the protection of the environment, water quality, the landscape and its features, endangered species of flora and fauna and climate change mitigation.

Clubs have been working with farmers that are involved with the GLAS Scheme in different ways around the country, some supply the farmer with the crop while others look to sow some themselves around their release pens and where they want to hold birds. The NARGC for their part supply grant aid towards the cost of the seed up to a maximum  of 25,000 Euros annually. This year saw the new partnership of the NARGC with Kings Seeds through its Irish agent Morrins, from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow. Kings have been involved in game crop and cover crop seed now for decades and work with all the major stakeholders both in the UK & Ireland. Clubs wishing to learn more or get involved please do not hesitate o contact us, for more details please see the link below. 

Here you will find all details of what is available. Kings Catalogue 2021  

 

Paper Game Bag return 2022 2023

 

For further information contact:

Game Development Committee:   gdo@nargc.ie