Thurs 11 September

  • Show and sale Charollais X lambs, Ballymena mart, 11am.
  • Texel sheep 102 head, show 6pm, sale 7pm, Armoy mart.

    • Fri 12 September

  • Texel sheep, 49 rams, show 6pm, sale 7pm, Swatragh mart.

    • Sat 13 September

  • Lleyn sheep 735 females 35 rams, show 10.30am, sale starting at 12noon, Ballymena mart.
  • Charolais national cattle show, Fintona, 10am.

    • Mon 15 September

  • Texel sheep 92 head, show 6pm, sale 7pm, Hilltown mart.
  • Mule ewe lambs show and sale, Rouge sheep show and sale, Ballymena mart, 7pm.

    • Tues 16 September

  • Ulster Grassland Society, organic beef production at John and Jonathan Carson’s, 54 Ballyculter Road, Downpatrick, 5.45pm. Details George TN 07920 037910.
  • Samco maize day, Samco grassland subsoiler demo, Moneymore Road, Desertmartin, 12noon to 2pm. Details Robert TN 07764 448544.
  • DARD greening seminar, Greenmount campus, Antrim, 8pm.

    • 16 & 17 September

  • Holstein NI tour. Visit Woodmarsh, Helton and Wyndford herds. Visit UK dairy day at Telford International Centre. Details John TN 07711 041128.

    • Wed 17 September

  • Samco Maize day, Samco grassland subsoiler demo, Armagh Road, Newry, 12noon to 2pm. Details Robert TN 07764 448544.
  • Texel sheep, 192 rams, show 4.30pm, sale 6.30pm, Ballymena mart.
  • DARD greening seminar, Roe Park resort, Limavady, 8pm.

    • Thurs 18 September

  • Texel rams, Lisahally mart, 7pm.
  • DARD greening seminar, Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch, 8pm.

    • Fri 19 September

  • Dispersal sale 90 Friesian X dairy cows for Arnold Anderson, Ballymena mart, starting at 11am.

    • Sat 20 September

  • Bluefaced Leicester sheep 308 rams 43 females, show 8am, sale 10am, Ballymena mart.

    • EFS due to be launched in 2015

    A new agri-environment scheme – the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) – is due to be launched in the second half of 2015, with the first agreements starting in January 2016, Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has confirmed.

    The scheme is part of the next Rural Development Programme and will have three levels – a targeted level, primarily for environmentally designated sites; a wider level to deliver benefits across the countryside, outside of environmentally-designated areas; and a group level to support co-operative action by farmers in specific areas, such as a river catchment or commonage.

    Minister urges farmers to provide bank details

    Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has urged farmers claiming the Single Farm Payment to ensure that they have provided bank account details to DARD to enable payment.

    Over 700 farm businesses do not have valid bank account details registered with DARD this year. The information is critical for the payment of SFP and all other subsidies. More than 300 of the 700 businesses have valid, error-free SFP claims but have not provided bank account details.

    Over the coming weeks, DARD will be writing to farmers who have not provided bank account details.

    Under European Commission rules, the Department is only permitted to make subsidy payments electronically through the Bankers Automated Clearing System (BACS).

    Cheque for apple research

    A cheque for £1,000, collected by way of a voluntary levy from industry, has been handed over to Dr Seán Mac an tSaoir from AFBI horticulture Loughgall by Hamilton Looney, chairman of the NI Fruit Growers Association. The money will be used to direct the DARD-sponsored research programme at AFBI Loughgall.

    Over the last 20 years, research at Loughgall in partnership with technology transfer through CAFRE; has contributed to a doubling of yield per unit area by the industry.

    Charolais dispersal at Raphoe Mart

    Over 100 Charolais cattle are set to come under the hammer at Raphoe Mart on Saturday 27 September when Ian Maxwell’s Deeleview herd is dispersed.

    The sale is scheduled to start at 12.30pm, with viewing from 10am on the morning of the sale.

    All stock are eligible for export to NI and Britain. For more information, or to obtain a catalogue, contact Ian Maxwell on 00353 87 2520420 or send an email to deeleview@gmail.com.

    NIFDA appetite for growth

    A conference organised by the NI Food and Drinks Association will take place on Tuesday 23 September at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast, starting at 8.15am and finishing with a networking lunch.

    The conference has the theme Appetite for Growth and will provide a forum to discuss barriers and solutions to growth, innovation and sustainability with keynote speakers including John Farrand, Guild of Fine Food; Professor Steven Walker, Campden BRI and Dr Frank van Ooijen, Royal FrieslandCampina NV. To register, visit www. morrowevents.com or contact Morrow Communications on 02890 393837.

    Ballymena farmer wins NSA prize

    The National Sheep Association (NSA) 2014 membership recruitment prize giveaway has had its first Northern Irish winner. Thomas Gibson, a mixed livestock farmer from Broughshane, Ballymena, is now the proud owner of an Advantage Feeders’ three-in-one feeder.

    The feeder is the fourth of six to be given away by NSA this year. The draw is open to anyone who signs up as a new NSA member and also existing members who recruit a friend or neighbour.

    Balmoral Show dates confirmed

    The RUAS has announced the dates for the 2015 Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank. The show returns next year on 13, 14 and 15 May. Dates have also been confirmed for 2016 as 11, 12 and 13 May.

    For details on the 2015 Balmoral Show, visit www. balmoralshow.co.uk. Facebook: Balmoral Show Twitter: @balmoralshow.