The number of Single Payment Scheme (SPS) applications received by the Department of Agriculture, at 38,420 applications, is on a par to 2013.
This day last week, there were 3,500 more applications submitted than the previous year.
However, consultants and advisers report a slower week with farmers taking advantage of the improvement in weather and focusing on completing field work.
There are now only three weeks remaining to submit applications.
Online applications dominate with 30,040 applications submitted , with 8,380 submitted by post. 4,759 maps have also been submitted online.
The Department is encouraging applicants to apply online, citing reduced errors as a major advantage to online applications.
Farmers looking to apply online can do so through the Department’s agfood facility at https://agfood.agriculture.gov.ie
Wool season finishes strongly
The 2013 wool season finished the year strongly with prices boosted by supply failing to satisfy demand. The final British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) sale on 15 April witnessed a complete clearance for an offering of 1.61m kilogrammes of wool and a 3% to 5% price increase for all wool types.
The average price paid was £1.50/kg (€1.80/kg). It should be noted that this is not the final price paid to farmers for their wool with a deduction made for operating costs (likely to average 40c/kg).
The strong sale follows on from a 96% increase of 1.71m kg and a 93% clearance of 1.74m kg in the previous two sales. Demand has strengthened since the turn of the year with China increasing their purchasing activity.
Farmers selling wool to Irish merchants in the last few weeks have also witnessed a stronger trade. Prices ranged from €1.20 to €1.30/kg with sellers with large volumes holding more negotiating power and securing returns of up to €1.40/kg.
There are very few quotes as yet for new season wool with the shearing season not likely to gain any real momentum until the start of the month.
Prices being discussed at present range from €1.10/kg to €1.20/kg for lowland wool. A stand-out feature of last year’s wool trade was a recovery in the value of Scottish Blackface wool. The BWMB yearly average price was £0.98/kg (€1.18/kg excluding deductions of 40c/kg).
Outstanding data
Forms have been circulated to farmers in recent weeks where there is still outstanding information required for the Beef Data Programme (BDP).
The end of April has been set as the deadline to submit information and comply for payment of €20/animal. Information can also be recorded through the Department’s AIM database, farm software packages or on the ICBF website at www.icbf.com. Call 1850-625626 for all queries on the scheme.
Information required is as follows:
On the calf: (a) sire, (b) calving ease, (c) calf docility, (d) calf quality;On the cow(s): (a) cow docility, (b) cow milk yield ability;On the bull(s): (a) bull docility, (b) bull functionality.Meanwhile, farmers are reminded to register calves in conjunction with collecting BVD samples.
BVD analysis cannot be returned to farmers if registration details are not complete.
Forage sales continue
While the volume of forage traded in the last week has fallen, there is still a relatively high level of activity in the market.
Sales are concentrated in more marginal areas where grass supplies remain tight. 4x4 round bale silage is trading at an average of €20 per bale with haylage and bales from reseeded or newly seeded swards selling to €22/€23 per bale.
In a few cases, sales of small numbers of bales are trading for up to €25 per bale.
Likewise, there are deals of €18 per bale reported where sellers are looking to shift large volumes.
Round bales of hay are trading from €25 to €30. There is very little activity in the straw market with improved weather facilitating turnout of higher numbers of stock.
The number of Single Payment Scheme (SPS) applications received by the Department of Agriculture, at 38,420 applications, is on a par to 2013.
This day last week, there were 3,500 more applications submitted than the previous year.
However, consultants and advisers report a slower week with farmers taking advantage of the improvement in weather and focusing on completing field work.
There are now only three weeks remaining to submit applications.
Online applications dominate with 30,040 applications submitted , with 8,380 submitted by post. 4,759 maps have also been submitted online.
The Department is encouraging applicants to apply online, citing reduced errors as a major advantage to online applications.
Farmers looking to apply online can do so through the Department’s agfood facility at https://agfood.agriculture.gov.ie
Wool season finishes strongly
The 2013 wool season finished the year strongly with prices boosted by supply failing to satisfy demand. The final British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) sale on 15 April witnessed a complete clearance for an offering of 1.61m kilogrammes of wool and a 3% to 5% price increase for all wool types.
The average price paid was £1.50/kg (€1.80/kg). It should be noted that this is not the final price paid to farmers for their wool with a deduction made for operating costs (likely to average 40c/kg).
The strong sale follows on from a 96% increase of 1.71m kg and a 93% clearance of 1.74m kg in the previous two sales. Demand has strengthened since the turn of the year with China increasing their purchasing activity.
Farmers selling wool to Irish merchants in the last few weeks have also witnessed a stronger trade. Prices ranged from €1.20 to €1.30/kg with sellers with large volumes holding more negotiating power and securing returns of up to €1.40/kg.
There are very few quotes as yet for new season wool with the shearing season not likely to gain any real momentum until the start of the month.
Prices being discussed at present range from €1.10/kg to €1.20/kg for lowland wool. A stand-out feature of last year’s wool trade was a recovery in the value of Scottish Blackface wool. The BWMB yearly average price was £0.98/kg (€1.18/kg excluding deductions of 40c/kg).
Outstanding data
Forms have been circulated to farmers in recent weeks where there is still outstanding information required for the Beef Data Programme (BDP).
The end of April has been set as the deadline to submit information and comply for payment of €20/animal. Information can also be recorded through the Department’s AIM database, farm software packages or on the ICBF website at www.icbf.com. Call 1850-625626 for all queries on the scheme.
Information required is as follows:
On the calf: (a) sire, (b) calving ease, (c) calf docility, (d) calf quality;On the cow(s): (a) cow docility, (b) cow milk yield ability;On the bull(s): (a) bull docility, (b) bull functionality.Meanwhile, farmers are reminded to register calves in conjunction with collecting BVD samples.
BVD analysis cannot be returned to farmers if registration details are not complete.
Forage sales continue
While the volume of forage traded in the last week has fallen, there is still a relatively high level of activity in the market.
Sales are concentrated in more marginal areas where grass supplies remain tight. 4x4 round bale silage is trading at an average of €20 per bale with haylage and bales from reseeded or newly seeded swards selling to €22/€23 per bale.
In a few cases, sales of small numbers of bales are trading for up to €25 per bale.
Likewise, there are deals of €18 per bale reported where sellers are looking to shift large volumes.
Round bales of hay are trading from €25 to €30. There is very little activity in the straw market with improved weather facilitating turnout of higher numbers of stock.
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