Increasing numbers farm assured

Over the past year, the number of farmers in NI who are members of farm quality assurance schemes has continued to increase.

Reporting the latest developments at the 15th annual general meeting of NI Food Chain Certification (NIFCC), the chair of the organisation, Harry Sinclair, highlighted that there are now 11,965 farmers in the beef and lamb assurance scheme. That is a year-on-year increase of 365 members.

During the year, a total of 8,847 inspections were completed on beef and sheep farms, made up of 728 initial, 7,436 surveillance, 644 spot-check and 39 re-inspections.

The biggest increase in numbers came in the Red Tractor Dairy Scheme as more milk buyers look to incentivise the production of quality assured milk. In total, numbers were up by 654, to stand at 1,458 members at the end of March 2016.

There are also now 966 members of the farm quality assured cereals scheme and 583 approved producers in the Red Tractor poultry scheme.

Conacre goes for £375 at Donnybrewer

There was a strong demand for conacre at the annual public letting of land on the Earl of Castle Stewart’s estate in Donnybrewer, near Eglinton, last Thursday.

Overall, 650 acres were up for letting in 25 lots.

Demand was sharpest for the only lot of newly reseeded grassland available with bidding opening at £300/ac for the 23.5ac field and finishing at the top price on the day of £375/ac.

All grassland was either let for grazing only or else one cut of silage and grazing, and made from £140/ac upwards. A nine-acre field of two-year-old grass was let for one cut followed by grazing at £230/ac and an eight-acre field of older grass was let for grazing at £235/ac.

Three fields were let at £200/ac, including two for grazing and the other for one cut of silage and grazing.

Two fields were let for wholecrop silage and both made the lowest price on the day of £130/ac.

The majority of lots were returned to the previous year’s tenants as farmers have Basic Payment entitlements established on the land, but most prices were up on last year.

Search for stolen tractor

A £70,000 tractor was stolen from a Co Tyrone farm between 11pm on 11 November and 7am the following morning.

Thieves entered the farmyard of Aaron Mullan at Doogary Road, Omagh, before unhooking the tractor from a trailer and making off in the direction of the main A5 road towards Omagh.

The tractor was a New Holland T7.200 and anyone with information has been asked to contact the police.