Secure winter campaign

The IFA has launched an awareness campaign urging farmers to stay safe and secure this winter. The campaign, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, offers advice on upgrading your home and farm security. You can find tips to help keep your farm and possessions safe as well as the recent IFA submission to the Policing Authority on the 2018 Policing Plan at www.ifa.ie/rural-security.

Sheep scheme

If you are a new entrant to sheep farming, you can apply to enter the Sheep Welfare Scheme for 2018. Sheep chair John Lynskey explained that new entrants who applied for a herd number in 2017 can apply to the Department of Agriculture to enter the scheme. He also reminded existing participants that they must make an application by post or online confirming their participation for 2018 by 2 February.

Organic scheme

Following a meeting with the Department of Agriculture, the IFA got a commitment that 2017 Organic Scheme advance payments of 85% would start in December. The remaining 15% payment will be made to those not in GLAS in early 2018 with the remainder to be paid when inspections are completed for GLAS in March/April. The IFA also raised concerns in relation to the difficulties in marketing organic beef and lamb and called for a strategic plan for the sector.

Maximising forest income

Farm forestry chair Pat Collins is reminding that forests that are actively managed and thinned regularly encourage the strongest trees to thrive and generate more income for owners. He encouraged farmers to make the effort to cut brash paths to access their forest, to apply for the grant to build a forest road and to hire a professional forester to assist them to manage the forest. More forestry advice is available online at www.ifa.ie/forestry.