It is often easy to criticise the civil service, but over the last couple of weeks it is important to recognise good outcomes achieved by DAERA officials.

Firstly came the detection of bluetongue in a heifer imported from France.

Without a robust testing regime, that animal posed a significant danger to all livestock farmers in NI.

It is also a timely reminder to everyone that importing livestock from bluetongue-affected areas in Europe is simply too big a risk to take.

With NI the only part of the UK to deliver a payment advance in October, officials should be commended for their efforts

The second positive outcome is the confirmation this week that 98% of applicants to the 2018 basic payment scheme have now received their full CAP payment.

That includes 94% of businesses which were subject to a land inspection earlier this year.

With NI the only part of the UK to deliver a payment advance in October, officials should be commended for their efforts.

It is not that long ago that farmers who had a land inspection were waiting into spring and early summer to receive their payments.

The crucial change since then has been the move to 100% of applications being made online.

Also the use of satellite imagery (remote sensing) to undertake land eligibility checks has allowed a much more rapid processing of inspections by officials.

In that regard, NI is slightly ahead of the game, with European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan recently suggesting that the EU will move towards 100% of land eligibility inspections being conducted using satellite images post 2020.

However, he also pointed out that satellites could potentially pass over a farm three times per week.

So farmers should be aware that there is much more that satellite imaging can do.

Therefore, of note is a new report just released in England, which has looked at the future of farm inspections.

It highlighted the potential role for this technology in monitoring compliance with various rules, including around slurry management, without the need to have inspectors out on the ground.

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