The number of farmers being penalised for removing landscape features like hedgerows and drains is on the rise, a Department of Agriculture inspector has warned.

Speaking at a cross-compliance meeting hosted by Teagasc and the Department in Clonmel on Monday night, inspector Conor O’Brien told farmers that “in my own experience, removal of landscape features is on the rise”.

Figures from the Department of Agriculture show that 28% of all breaches of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) rule were for damaging/removing landscape features in 2016.

Poaching problems accounted for almost half of all the GAEC breaches.

Some 5,915 cross-compliance inspections were carried out on farms in 2016.

Last year 5,466 farmers received a full cross-compliance inspection and there are extra inspections under way in early 2018 relating to 2017 farm schemes, which will bring the total number in line with 2016.

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