Uppermill Shorthorns top Carlisle sale

A 22-month-old heifer from Co Down based Uppermill Shorthorns topped the breed society’s spring sale in Carlisle last week at 4,500gns.

The sale leader, Uppermill Lillian Jill, was placed reserve supreme champion in the pre-sale show. She is a Dunsyre Demetri daughter and was purchased by a breeder from Derbyshire.

The herd from Dromore also exhibited the next highest selling lot which was placed supreme champion. Uppermill Rama is a two-year-old Demetri son and sold for 4,000gns. Reserve male champion was Uppermill Lisburn, which sold for 2,400gns.

Bird flu in Antrim

The first case of bird flu in NI this season was detected in Co Antrim last week when a dead buzzard tested positive for the H5N6 avian influenza strain.

“While the risk of an avian influenza incursion in wild birds is now heightened, the risk to poultry remains low,” DAERA chief vet Robert Huey said.

However, he reminded birdkeepers to remain vigilant and to review their biosecurity measures.

Lidl seeks local suppliers

Supermarket chain Lidl is rolling out its Kick Start Supplier Development Programme, giving food and drink companies in NI the chance to have their products stocked in more than 190 Lidl stores across Ireland.

Kick Start is designed specifically to support small- and medium-sized suppliers. It was successfully trialled in the Republic of Ireland in 2017.

This year, up to 80 new products, sourced from Ireland, north and south, will be selected to feature in a limited-edition Kick Start in-store food promotion on sale in September 2018.

From these, three products will go on to be showcased to some 150 global buyers at Lidl’s International Food Expo.

NI suppliers can enter online at www.lidl-ni.co.uk/en/kick-start.htm.

Entries must be received by 15 April.

BVD changes working at marts

The addition of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) statuses to DAERA’s computer system APHIS has caused minimal disruption at marts. “We have had very, very few problems. Most farmers have a negative result back before they come to the mart,” Ballymena mart manager Sam McNabney said.

For cattle born after 1 March 2016, only animals that tested negative for BVD can move either through a livestock market, directly into another herd or be exported.

Movement restrictions apply to cattle born before 1 March 2016 if they have tested BVD positive or inconclusive, or are the dam of a persistently infected (PI) calf or the offspring of a PI.

From 1 May 2018, PI cattle born after 1 March 2016 will no longer be accepted abattoirs in NI.

Higher level of EFS reopens

The higher level of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) is open for a second tranche of applications, closing at midnight on 20 April 2018.

The scheme is for land in environmentally designated sites or land containing priority habitats and species. Prospective applicants can log into DAERA online services to see if their land is eligible.

Successful applicants will be invited to engage with an external planner to produce a management plan. Scheme agreements are due to start on 1 January 2019 and last for five years.

RHANI appeal

Dates have been set in the Court of Appeal for the Renewable Heat Association for NI (RHANI) challenge of a judgment from a judicial review last December.

RHANI was unsuccessful in its judicial review against the Department for the Economy which challenged the introduction of cost-cutting tariffs in the Renewable Heat Incentive.

The appeal is now listed for 18 and 19 September 2018.

Ends