SAF deadline

The deadline for notifying DAERA about the transfer of entitlements for the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme year is Tuesday (2 May).

The main deadline after this is 15 May when the Single Application Form (SAF) should be submitted to avoid late penalties. A DAERA spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that 10,393 online applications have been received so far, which includes 4,046 submitted online for the first time.

The department wants all farmers to complete forms online this year.

An additional online SAF workshop has been scheduled for Thursday 27 April from 6 to 8pm at Southern Regional College, Newry. Weekly workshops also continue to CAFRE’s three campuses from 6 to 8pm on Tuesdays at Loughry, Thursdays at Greenmount and both Tuesdays and Thursdays at Enniskillen. The events are free to attend and places should be pre-booked by telephoning 028 7131 9955.

Bird flu zone under review

A review of the avian influenza prevention zone in NI is expected by DAERA in the coming days as the current zone is set to expire on Sunday (30 April).

The avian influenza prevention zone was first introduced in NI on 23 December 2016 and initially required all poultry to be housed. A review in mid-March allowed birds to have access to outdoor ranges provided extra biosecurity measures were in place.

“Officials met industry stakeholders earlier this week and are finalising a veterinary risk assessment. The Department will issue updated guidance in the coming days,” a DAERA spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal this week.

Compulsory poultry housing in the Republic of Ireland ended on Tuesday.

Speers elected YFCU president

James Speers has been elected president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU), replacing outgoing president Roberta Simmons for a two-year term.

Speers has been the YFCU deputy president for the past two years and was elected president at the organisation’s AGM in Armagh last Saturday.

Zita Blair from Moneymore YFC was elected deputy president after no other existing vice-presidents put their name forward for the role. There was an election for the four roles as vice-president with William Beattie, David Oliver, Harry Crosby and Peter Alexander taking the positions.

Dale Farm holds price for April

Dale Farm sent a letter to members last week indicating that a base price of 25.5p/l, plus 0.3p loyalty bonus, will hold for April supplies. That price has left Dale Farm top of our March milk league.

See pages 58 and 59