Include plastic recycle codes with baling invoices

The Association of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) recently met the Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) to discuss the issues around the management of the plastic recycling process as it affects farm contractors. FCI agreed to support IFFPG in making the farm plastic recycling system more transparent and easier for farmers and contractors.

Some contractors are unaware of the label code issue and why it is necessary for farmers to have the plastic film label code to lower the costs of recycling their plastic. The recycling cost difference is €12 per half tonne with a legitimate code compared with €85 per half tonne without a plastic film recycling code.

FCI national chairJohn Sheehy has urged all farm contractors to include the respective plastic roll recycling batch label code, which is attached to each pallet of bale wrap film, with each customer invoice. “This is a relatively simple process and will ensure that our farming customers can get the benefits from the valuable IFFPG recycling scheme,” said John Sheehy.

Revenue audits – contractor invoices

With increased Revenue Commissioners audits on farms, the FCI urges members to provide their customers with adequate invoices for farm contracting work done.

Guidelines from the Revenue Commissioners suggest that the invoice includes details of the work done on the basis of the payment rate for the services and the volume of work done, (eg baling rate and the number of bales).

Where farmers have paid for contractor services without having a proper invoice and where receipts are claimed for farm tax purposes on the basis of a cheque stub, the clear message from the Revenue Commissioners is that these payments will be treated as personal drawings for the farmer. They will then be subject to the full PAYE, PRSI and universal social charge deductions by the farmer.

FCI urges all farm contractors to provide a detailed invoice for all contractor services so that they can be treated as a taxable expense, should the farm be the subject of a Revenue Commissioners audit.

FCI has been made aware that contractor services are high in the list or services that the Revenue Commissioners will regularly audit when spot-checking farm accounts.

Raising safety awareness for the silage season

The FCI recently held a safety awareness event at the yard of Slievenamon Agri Services, operated by the White Bros, Richard, John and Martin at Drangan, Tipperary.

The aim of the event was to highlight the dangers on farms where contractors are operating machines, especially during these busy weeks of the silage harvest.

FBD Insurance has provided FCI with a large number of high-visibility jackets for children, which are provided to farms to help raise awareness of the dangers of operating high-powered machines in a busy farm contracting environment. FBD started this programme of support with FCI at the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show in February.