Sheep scheme must be delivered: Muir

A new support scheme for the NI sheep sector needs to be rolled out, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said.

Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday, Minister Muir said DAERA could prioritise sheep support once the new rules for the main follow on to the basic payment scheme is finalised.

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“We must deliver a sheep support scheme. If we get the farm sustainability payment and the farm sustainability standards agreed, we can deliver sheep support,” he said.

With nearly 17% coming off all area-based payments in NI over the past two years to fund new suckler and beef schemes, there has been a lobbying campaign for a new scheme for sheep.

Local sheep farmers also point out that payments worth up to €25 per ewe are available to their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.

Straw prices remain generally steady

Prices for round bales of straw have softened a little, with current quotes ranging from £25 to £28 for barley straw and £23 to £28 for wheat straw.

Prices for 8x4x3 square bales remain steady, with most producers quoting between £60 and £65. One supplier is offering black plastic-wrapped 4x4 round bales at £30, collected.

Imported English chopped barley straw continues to be quoted at £85 to £90 per 8x4x3 bales.

Suspected botulism cases linked to contaminated feed

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has confirmed it is aware of suspected fatal botulism cases in cattle on a small number of farms in England.

Outbreaks have been reported in Essex, Northamptonshire, and Shropshire, and are believed to be linked to contaminated animal feed.

The feed was supplied by a business certified under the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) and the Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS). It has since been withdrawn from sale.

All recipients of the potentially affected feed have been contacted by their supplier.

Germinal launch new Grassland Guide

Local seed company, Germinal, has launched a new guide focusing on practices that will deliver productivity and environmental benefits on farms.

The guide will aid farmers preparing for reseeding next spring by helping them select suitable fields and adjust soil fertility and pH levels to ensure optimal germination and pasture performance.

It also offers farmers advice on reducing nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions through science-backed strategies such as forage selection and improved grassland management.

The new Germinal Grassland Guide is available here as a free download from the Germinal website.