Simmentals sell to 3,400gns in Dungannon

A bull exhibited by JN Glasgow from Cookstown topped the pedigree Simmental sale at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart last Friday at 3,400gns.

The January 2016-born bull is a Dermotstown Delboy son and is from the dam Bridgewater Farm Phyliss.

The overall champion in the show before the sale was Ranfurly Goodfellow G9 15. The 21-month-old bull was exhibited by WD Hazelton from Dungannon and sold for 3,000gns. He is sired by Omorga Murray and from the dam Ranfurly Lady Diana 7th.

The reserve champion was Hiltonstown Giles 15, shown by Richard Rodgers from Portglenone. The 17-month-old bull is a Mohona Dandy son, from the dam Hiltonstown Erica and sold for 2,400gns.

Water charges to increase by 1.6%

Non-domestic water charges for 80,000 businesses in NI are set to increase by an average of 1.65% in 2017/18 financial year. The increase in charges will affect metered farm businesses that use water from the mains supply.

Charges from NI Water were frozen for the 2016/17 financial year following a 2.4% average increase the year before.

Ronan Larkin from NI Water said out that the increase in water charges is below inflation and less than the potential 2.65% increase that NI Water could apply under tariffs outlined by the Utility Regulator.

“Non-domestic customers will still be paying 12% less for water and sewerage services than they were in 2012/13, when inflation is taken into account,” he said.

Rush weed wiping trial in Armagh

A free weed wiping service for rush control is being offered to farmers in the catchment area of Seagahan Reservoir near Markethill between May and September 2017 and 2018.

NI Water has said that additional treatment and extra cost is needed in the water treatment in the Seagahan Reservoir due to high levels of grassland pesticides, such as MCPA. The voluntary trial involves weed weeping with glyphosate, which is the only pesticide licensed for use in weed wipers.

A research trial at CAFRE has shown that cutting and weed wiping rushes reduced the percentage of rush cover from 81% to 20% in one year. MCPA breaks down in 15 to 25 days whereas glyphosate breaks down in three to seven days, meaning there is also less chance of water pollution.

A farm liaison officer will work with farmers in the pilot project to manage the weed wiping and provide advice on pesticide use and rush control.

An information evening is being held on Thursday 6 April at 7.30pm at Ballymacnab Community Centre in Tassagh. Further details and application forms are also available on www.niwater.com/watercatchment. The closing date for applications is 30 April 2017.