Pollination is vital for the reproductive cycle of flowering plants, which in turn is vital for the future of agriculture.

According to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, pollinators are important to farmers who grow pollinator-dependent crops and to those of us who want to grow our own fruits and vegetables.

The centre says even if we don’t currently grow these crops, we should aim to retain the ability to do so for future generations.

Every farmer can make some small changes on their farm to encourage bees to pollinate. This is important because one third of our 98 bee species are threatened with extinction from the island of Ireland.

The biodiversity centre came up with five simple actions every farmer can make:

  • Maintain native flowering hedgerows.
  • Allow wildflowers to grow around the farm.
  • Provide nesting places for wild bees.
  • Minimise artificial fertiliser use.
  • Reduce pesticide input.
  • More details and tips on bee-friendly farming are available at www.biodiversityireland.ie.

    N&P statements

    The Department of Agriculture has announced that nitrogen and phosphorus (N&P) statements for the period January to November 2018 are now available on the Department’s online system at www.agfood.ie.

    According to the Department, these statements are particularly useful to allow farmers to plan for the remainder of the year, in order to ensure compliance with the limits of the nitrates regulations, in turn avoiding penalties for breaching the limits of 170kg N/ha or the limit for those who hold an approved derogation is 250kg N/ha.

    Farmers not already registered can do so by logging on to www.agfood.ie and clicking the register button. To register a mobile phone number for future SMS text alerts, log on to www.agriculture.gov.ie/contactsupdates to access the sign-on form, or alternatively contact the regional office.

    The Department is also reminding farmers that nitrates records for the movement of livestock manure, temporary movement of animals during the year or short-term rental grazing agreements (records 3, 4, 5 forms) must be submitted on or before 31 December 2018.