Sheep farmers will shortly receive their 2018 Sheep and Goat Census forms. The Department of Agriculture has also announced that an information leaflet on the new EID rules will be included in the envelope.

The forms and accompanying leaflet will be issued to over 45,000 registered sheep and goat keepers.

The date for completion of the census is Monday 31 December and the forms must be returned by 31 January 2019.

The census can be completed in hard copy and returned by post in the pre-addressed envelope provided or it may be submitted online via www.agfood.ie.

Completion of an online form has an extended closing date of 14 February 2019.

The return of census details is a legal requirement.

Return methods

While the census return can be made by ordinary post, in the event of a dispute the only acceptable proof of postage for the Department is a registered post receipt.

If a farmer chooses to return a census online, the system provides confirmation when a submission has been completed successfully.

Farmers who are not already registered for online services can do so via www.agfood.ie.

As log-in details are issued by post, farmers should allow sufficient time in advance of the closing date to receive those details.

The Department warned that late submission of 2018 details may have implications for eligibility to certain schemes, as well as having an impact on payments.

“Submission of a completed census is central in declaring that required stocking rates are being maintained and facilitates the drawing down of payments under schemes such as the Sheep Welfare Scheme, Basic Payment Scheme, Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, AEOS, GLAS etc,” according to the Department.

EID rules

The included information leaflet will detail new rules relating to the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS), announced by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed in May.

These rule changes will see the extension of EID to all sheep including lambs.

Under the new rules, all sheep must be identified with a full set of EID tags bar lambs under 12 months of age moving directly to slaughter from the holding of birth.

These lambs may be identified with a single electronic tag in the animal’s right ear.

The rules will apply form 1 June 2019.