Prior to 2023, rules relating to cattle tags and registration rules were consistently the main cause of cross compliance penalties in Northern Ireland.
Total penalties for nitrates pollution have now increased for four years in a row.
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The number of penalties handed out to NI farmers for breaking rules related to landscape features more than doubled last year, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.
Figures obtained from DAERA show 281 breaches of these rules were found during cross compliance inspections in 2024, which is up from 130 breaches the year previous.
Common issues with regulations on the retention of landscape features include removing hedges, sheughs and ditches without prior written permission from DAERA.
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The next most common reason for farm penalties relates to the protection of water against nitrates pollution, with this set of rules responsible for 279 breaches last year.
Total penalties for nitrates pollution have now increased for four years in a row. A key factor is likely to be DAERA beefing up its inspection team on the back of algal blooms in local waterways.
Prior to 2023, rules relating to cattle tags and registration rules were consistently the main cause of cross compliance penalties in NI.
However, cattle ID rules are now the third most common reason for rule breaches, with 189 fines handed out in 2024, down from 246 penalties the year previous.
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Title: Hedges and nitrates cause most penalties
Prior to 2023, rules relating to cattle tags and registration rules were consistently the main cause of cross compliance penalties in Northern Ireland.
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The number of penalties handed out to NI farmers for breaking rules related to landscape features more than doubled last year, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.
Figures obtained from DAERA show 281 breaches of these rules were found during cross compliance inspections in 2024, which is up from 130 breaches the year previous.
Common issues with regulations on the retention of landscape features include removing hedges, sheughs and ditches without prior written permission from DAERA.
The next most common reason for farm penalties relates to the protection of water against nitrates pollution, with this set of rules responsible for 279 breaches last year.
Total penalties for nitrates pollution have now increased for four years in a row. A key factor is likely to be DAERA beefing up its inspection team on the back of algal blooms in local waterways.
Prior to 2023, rules relating to cattle tags and registration rules were consistently the main cause of cross compliance penalties in NI.
However, cattle ID rules are now the third most common reason for rule breaches, with 189 fines handed out in 2024, down from 246 penalties the year previous.
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