The Basic Payment Scheme (single farm payment) forms have just been submitted and already we are getting queries on when inspectors will start visiting farms.
There is no doubt the fear of inspections keeps some farmers awake at night. The National Farm Survey results released by Teagasc yesterday confirmed once again the dependence of livestock farms on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). With average income figures for the farming sector at €24,060 and average cattle-rearing farm incomes at just €12,908 in 2016, it is clear why farmers are so concerned about protecting the basic farm payment. Without it, they go out of business.
Farmers need to be crystal clear and know their rights – there are only three areas where no-notice inspections can take place:
(1) Cross-compliance inspections on food and feed hygiene (milking parlours etc). (2) Animal welfare issues (mainly calves).(3) GLAS inspections. If an inspector is on farm doing an unannounced inspection for any of the above, he or she must ask the farmer should they wish to continue inspecting any of the other items such as cattle ID, greening or basic payment. The Farmers’ Charter of Rights is very clear and states: “All no-notice inspections will be conducted separately from all notice inspections unless the farmer requests otherwise.” Cattle and sheep identification and registration and TAMS eligibility have up to a 48-hour notice period. Basic payment, greening, Local Authority Nitrates, ANC, Young Farmers Schemes etc all carry up to 14 days’ notice for the farmer.
We have heard some stories of inspectors either trying to enforce an inspection with other family members present or while the farmer is busy completing another task in some other part of the farm or farmyard. These situations can and should be avoided.
In some circumstances inspectors must have due care for related events that are happening on the farm. Earlier this year we highlighted a case where a death in the farm family had just happened but the inspector was keen to continue inspecting. Similarly, we have heard of inspectors turning up on family celebrations (confirmations etc) and wanting to remain on farm while the ceremony was in full flow.
The farmers involved in any of these situations rightly feel very aggrieved by the whole untimely process.
It is fair to say the majority of inspectors have due respect for events on the farm and these individual cases unfairly taint the image of all inspectors.
We must also of course remember that inspectors have a job to complete and not for a minute can we condone wrongdoing to evade penalties but basic common sense must prevail.
However, where individual inspectors are not respecting basic rights, in line with those set down in the Farmers’ Charter, then action needs to be taken. Through the IFA, farmers could have such cases dealt with on a confidential basis at the charter monitoring committee chaired by Dr Sean Brady, which meets three times per year. When a farmer does something wrong, there is a sanction. There should be some recourse for a farmer who feels and can prove he/she was treated unfairly.
Read more
Tipperary inspection campaign continues
The Basic Payment Scheme (single farm payment) forms have just been submitted and already we are getting queries on when inspectors will start visiting farms.
There is no doubt the fear of inspections keeps some farmers awake at night. The National Farm Survey results released by Teagasc yesterday confirmed once again the dependence of livestock farms on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). With average income figures for the farming sector at €24,060 and average cattle-rearing farm incomes at just €12,908 in 2016, it is clear why farmers are so concerned about protecting the basic farm payment. Without it, they go out of business.
Farmers need to be crystal clear and know their rights – there are only three areas where no-notice inspections can take place:
(1) Cross-compliance inspections on food and feed hygiene (milking parlours etc). (2) Animal welfare issues (mainly calves).(3) GLAS inspections. If an inspector is on farm doing an unannounced inspection for any of the above, he or she must ask the farmer should they wish to continue inspecting any of the other items such as cattle ID, greening or basic payment. The Farmers’ Charter of Rights is very clear and states: “All no-notice inspections will be conducted separately from all notice inspections unless the farmer requests otherwise.” Cattle and sheep identification and registration and TAMS eligibility have up to a 48-hour notice period. Basic payment, greening, Local Authority Nitrates, ANC, Young Farmers Schemes etc all carry up to 14 days’ notice for the farmer.
We have heard some stories of inspectors either trying to enforce an inspection with other family members present or while the farmer is busy completing another task in some other part of the farm or farmyard. These situations can and should be avoided.
In some circumstances inspectors must have due care for related events that are happening on the farm. Earlier this year we highlighted a case where a death in the farm family had just happened but the inspector was keen to continue inspecting. Similarly, we have heard of inspectors turning up on family celebrations (confirmations etc) and wanting to remain on farm while the ceremony was in full flow.
The farmers involved in any of these situations rightly feel very aggrieved by the whole untimely process.
It is fair to say the majority of inspectors have due respect for events on the farm and these individual cases unfairly taint the image of all inspectors.
We must also of course remember that inspectors have a job to complete and not for a minute can we condone wrongdoing to evade penalties but basic common sense must prevail.
However, where individual inspectors are not respecting basic rights, in line with those set down in the Farmers’ Charter, then action needs to be taken. Through the IFA, farmers could have such cases dealt with on a confidential basis at the charter monitoring committee chaired by Dr Sean Brady, which meets three times per year. When a farmer does something wrong, there is a sanction. There should be some recourse for a farmer who feels and can prove he/she was treated unfairly.
Read more
Tipperary inspection campaign continues
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