Hardcopy forms for the 2020 sheep and goat census were circulated this week to over 47,000 sheep and goat keepers registered on the Department’s website. The date for the census is Friday 31 December.

The Department is encouraging more keepers to complete the census return online, if possible.

They highlight the benefits of the online system, including the ability to view census history for previous years, instant peace of mind that the census has been received by the Department, along with avoiding postage costs, while a relatively new feature of the online system includes the ability to order sheep dispatch or movement booklets online through the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system.

A relatively new feature of the online system includes the ability to order sheep dispatch or movement booklets online

Take note that the portal for submitting and recording data for 2020 will only become available on 31 December and will be locked until this point.

The deadline for submitting information online is 15 February 2020, while postal forms must arrive no later than 1 February.

Remember – the only acceptable proof of postage is a Registered Post receipt.

The form must be returned regardless of whether you currently have sheep or not and failure to do so will negatively affect payment for a number of important farm schemes.