Farmer dies in quad accident

A farmer died in an accident involving a quad on a farm in the Ringsend area near Coleraine on Saturday evening. The farmer has been named locally as Hugh Henry and is understood to have been in his late 50s.

An accident and emergency crew, as well as the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, attended the incident. However, Mr Henry was pronounced dead at the scene. “The Health and Safety Executive is aware of a tragic incident in the Coleraine area and is making enquiries,” a Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said.

Up to 50 cattle stolen

Police in Fermanagh are investing the theft of between 40 to 50 cattle from a shed in the Foglish Road area of Fivemiletown. “It was reported this occurred between 2pm on Wednesday 9 May and midday on Thursday 10 May,” PSNI Constable Niall Bennett said.

“I am appealing for anyone who was in the area between these times, or in recent days, and saw any suspicious activity to contact us. I am also appealing to anyone who knows of the movements of a cattle lorry in the area around these times, between 9 and 10 May to contact police in Lisnaskea,” Constable Bennett added.

Police can be contacted by phoning the non-emergency number 101 or by phoning Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Booking opens for UFU training

Registration has opened for farm-based training courses delivered through the new Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) training division.

Training will take place in locations within each county in NI and four courses are being offered initially.

According to the UFU, members can save 20% by completing courses through the new training division.

UFU members can take the PA1 safe use of pesticides for £90, PA2 boom sprayer for £200, PA6 hand held applicator for £155.60 and rodent control for £84. All prices are before VAT.

The courses are being co-ordinated by Countryside Services Ltd and are delivered by Lantra approved instructors. Members can book and pay for courses on the UFU website or at local group offices.

Pig sector halves antibiotic usage

The levels of antibiotics used in the UK pig sector have more than halved over the past two years, according to figures published this week.

Data from the Electronic Medicine Booklet (eMB) shows that average antibiotic use on UK pig farms fell by 28% from 183mg/PCU in 2016 to 131mg/PCU last year. This represents a 53% drop in antibiotic usage since 2015.

The pig sector is on course to meet a target set last year by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) to reduce antibiotic usage by over 60% from 2015 levels by 2020.

The eMB is an electronic version of a veterinary medicine book, and antibiotic use for 87% of pigs slaughtered in the UK are currently recorded on it. Since October last year, use of eMB became a requirement for pig farmers under the Red Tractor quality assurance scheme.

“The pig industry is now leading the way within livestock production with up-to-date figures on actual usage of antibiotics, allowing for realistic reduction targets.

‘‘The technology demonstrates with complete transparency the progress that is being made,” said NI Pork and Bacon Forum chief executive Deirdre McIvor.

Defra consults on environment body

A consultation on the establishment of an independent environmental watchdog after Brexit was launched by Defra Secretary Michael Gove last week.

The proposed body will provide independent advice on environmental policy and will hold the UK government to account on the delivery of environmental law, a role currently held by EU bodies. “We will not weaken environmental protections when we leave the EU,” Gove said.

The proposals are part of the Environmental Principles and Governance Bill and the new body will apply to England only, as environmental regulation is a devolved matter.

There have been attempts in the past to establish a similar body in NI with the most recent being in September 2015 when the then Environment Minister Mark H Durkan launched a public consultation on the matter.

Those plans were opposed by the Ulster Farmers’ Union.