Citing poor weather conditions over the winter, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association is seeking an extension for prescribed burning to 31 March 2016.
Failure to extend the prescribed burning dates to the end of March will affect land maintenance in hill areas, according to the INHFA.
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The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is calling on Minister Humphreys to extend the timeframe for prescribed burning to 31 March 2016 through a ministerial directive. INHFA national chair Vincent Roddy outlined how there has been no suitable time since last September to carry out prescribed burning due to very wet conditions.
“Proposals to extend the dates to the end of March was before the Dáil but wasn’t enacted due to the announcement of the election, “ said Roddy. “The extension of this date is now essential for many hill farmers who had areas identified for prescribed burning in order to help maintain their land in a state suitable for grazing.”
The Heritage Bill 2016 was recently passed in the Seanad and must be passed by the new Dáil to give effect to the change in the burning date, as envisioned in the Bill.
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The IFA hill committee chair Pat Dunne added that the new Dáil must take on board the Bill by the Minister for Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys and put into effect a more practical arrangement for managing hill and upland areas.
Meetings
Following meetings between the INHFA and Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine Officials (DAFM), assurances were given to the INHFA that controlled or prescribed burning is an acceptable agricultural activity among others, in maintaining mountain-type land in a state suitable for grazing.
“In effect, controlled burning is as essential to improving the vegetation and agricultural return from mountain-type land as ploughing or reseeding is for lowland,” said Roddy. He pointed out that this action can only be carried out when weather conditions are suitable and that hill farmers need to be afforded the same opportunity that has being given to other farming sectors as a result of adverse weather. He added how “failure to extend the prescribed burning dates to the end of March will affect land maintenance in hill areas and will possibly require a derogation for hill farmers under land eligibility guidelines.”
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Title: INHFA seeks extension for prescribed burning
Citing poor weather conditions over the winter, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association is seeking an extension for prescribed burning to 31 March 2016.
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The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is calling on Minister Humphreys to extend the timeframe for prescribed burning to 31 March 2016 through a ministerial directive. INHFA national chair Vincent Roddy outlined how there has been no suitable time since last September to carry out prescribed burning due to very wet conditions.
“Proposals to extend the dates to the end of March was before the Dáil but wasn’t enacted due to the announcement of the election, “ said Roddy. “The extension of this date is now essential for many hill farmers who had areas identified for prescribed burning in order to help maintain their land in a state suitable for grazing.”
The Heritage Bill 2016 was recently passed in the Seanad and must be passed by the new Dáil to give effect to the change in the burning date, as envisioned in the Bill.
The IFA hill committee chair Pat Dunne added that the new Dáil must take on board the Bill by the Minister for Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys and put into effect a more practical arrangement for managing hill and upland areas.
Meetings
Following meetings between the INHFA and Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine Officials (DAFM), assurances were given to the INHFA that controlled or prescribed burning is an acceptable agricultural activity among others, in maintaining mountain-type land in a state suitable for grazing.
“In effect, controlled burning is as essential to improving the vegetation and agricultural return from mountain-type land as ploughing or reseeding is for lowland,” said Roddy. He pointed out that this action can only be carried out when weather conditions are suitable and that hill farmers need to be afforded the same opportunity that has being given to other farming sectors as a result of adverse weather. He added how “failure to extend the prescribed burning dates to the end of March will affect land maintenance in hill areas and will possibly require a derogation for hill farmers under land eligibility guidelines.”
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