The decision by DARD Forest Service to put over 4,000 acres of their land up for public auction at the same time as there is a scramble for conacre land in NI, has caused anger among some farmers.
The auction took place last week in Clogher, and was conducted by RA Noble and Co. In total, over 4,000 acres was available for letting in 35 different parcels across NI. The prices paid topped out at over £300/acre. Land was available on two and five-year leases, with the tenant able to establish and claim subsidy payments on eligible area.
One farmer who attended the auction said: “We knew prices were going to be high, but they ended up 30% higher again.”
The new dynamic in the market were farmers looking to secure large tracts of land for a son or daughter hoping to receive an award from the regional reserve. If eligible, they go straight to the NI average of approximately €329/ha. There is also the possibility that some might be eligible for the young farmer top-up, potentially worth €84 on up to 90ha, and also claim the Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) payment.
While some of the heather moorland on offer only made £10/ha, as pointed out by another farmer at the auction, this figure is not truly reflective of the prices.
Significant parts of the heather on this moorland is likely to be ineligible (over 50cm in height) to establish entitlements this year. The onus was on each bidder to walk the land beforehand to know just how much of the area is eligible.
A good example of the increased prices paid is a 339ha block of hill land outside Rostrevor, Co Down. This land realised £46,700, which was over four times the price paid by the same farmer for it in 2014. The land was first put up for public auction last year. Before that, it had been let out by tender.
It is this issue that has angered some tenants and local farmers. The point made by Kilkeel hill farmer and chair of the NI Branch of the National Beef Association, Oisin Murnion, is that much of the Forest Service land is marginal, with a significant part designated within Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), and therefore requires specialist management. “Some of the people taking the land do not have the skills to manage an upland area. To protect these marginal pastures, a constructive management plan is required, based on traditional breeds of cattle and sheep,” Murnion told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Points system
He would like to have seen the land tendered out on a points system, where 20% of the score related to the price being bid and 80% on the experience of the farmer to operate in these areas.
“Instead, local farmers were forced to compete at auction against people looking to protect and maximise their subsidy payments. It looks like DARD was trying to cash in on the current market for land in NI. They are no better than other landowners exploiting farmers,” maintained Murnion.
Thurs 19 March
DARD CAP reform roadshow, Loughry Campus, Cookstown, 7pm to 9.30pm.Diane Dodds MEP, CAP roadshow with DARD speakers, Magherabouy House Hotel, Portrush, 7.45pm.SDA Group ‘rural view’ launch. Speakers: Michelle O’Neill and Cormac McKervey, Derrygonnelly Community Hall, 7pm.Fri 20 March
NI Simmental, 27 bulls, eight females, 20 commercial females, show 10.30am, sale 1pm, Dungannon mart.Multi-breed beef bull sale, Ballymena mart, Co Antrim,
11am.Sat 21 March
In-calf suckler cows and heifer dispersal, 210 head for N & J Alexander, Jalex herd, Ballymena mart, Co Antrim, 11.30am.Farm families’ health check van, Clogher mart, 11am to 4pm.Tues 24 March
All breeds dairy sale, Kilrea mart, 11am.DARD CAP reform roadshow, Enniskillen campus, 2pm to 4.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm.Wed 25 March
Farm families’ health check van, Lisahally mart, 6.30pm to 10.30pm.Thurs 26 March
NI Holstein young breeders’ club stockjudging practice at Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Herd, 25 Kerrs Road, Bangor, Co Down, 7.30pm. Details Andrew TN 07762 168039.DARD CAP reform roadshow, Greenmount campus, Antrim, 2pm and 7pm.Fri 27 March
Farm families’ health check van at Toy Farm & Model show, Magherabuoy House Hotel, Portrush, Co Antrim, 2pm to 9pm.Sat 28 March
Farm families’ health check van at by-gone farming vintage day, Ballygawley, 11am to 5pm.The deadline for submission of nitrates derogation applications has been extended from 1 March to 31 May 2015.
Announcing the change, Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill and Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said that the deadline has been extended for this year only to take account of new CAP rules and to enable more farmers to apply. With farmers losing land due to issues around active farmers, a number could find themselves over the 170kg limit for nitrogen from livestock manure, and liable to a cross-compliance penalty.
The derogation allows a 250kg limit, although derogated farms must have a fertilisation plan, carry out soil sampling, have a farm phosphorus balance below 10kg/P/ha/year and have at least 80% grassland.
Manure from pigs and poultry is not eligible for the higher derogation limit. An application must be made annually to the NI Environment Agency.
Welcoming the announcement, Ulster Farmers’ Union president Ian Marshall said: “I would urge any farmer who feels that they may need a derogation to seriously consider their options now and, if necessary, submit an application to NIEA by the 31 May closing date.”
Advice on the derogation is available from CAFRE on 0300 200 7841.
The decision by DARD Forest Service to put over 4,000 acres of their land up for public auction at the same time as there is a scramble for conacre land in NI, has caused anger among some farmers.
The auction took place last week in Clogher, and was conducted by RA Noble and Co. In total, over 4,000 acres was available for letting in 35 different parcels across NI. The prices paid topped out at over £300/acre. Land was available on two and five-year leases, with the tenant able to establish and claim subsidy payments on eligible area.
One farmer who attended the auction said: “We knew prices were going to be high, but they ended up 30% higher again.”
The new dynamic in the market were farmers looking to secure large tracts of land for a son or daughter hoping to receive an award from the regional reserve. If eligible, they go straight to the NI average of approximately €329/ha. There is also the possibility that some might be eligible for the young farmer top-up, potentially worth €84 on up to 90ha, and also claim the Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) payment.
While some of the heather moorland on offer only made £10/ha, as pointed out by another farmer at the auction, this figure is not truly reflective of the prices.
Significant parts of the heather on this moorland is likely to be ineligible (over 50cm in height) to establish entitlements this year. The onus was on each bidder to walk the land beforehand to know just how much of the area is eligible.
A good example of the increased prices paid is a 339ha block of hill land outside Rostrevor, Co Down. This land realised £46,700, which was over four times the price paid by the same farmer for it in 2014. The land was first put up for public auction last year. Before that, it had been let out by tender.
It is this issue that has angered some tenants and local farmers. The point made by Kilkeel hill farmer and chair of the NI Branch of the National Beef Association, Oisin Murnion, is that much of the Forest Service land is marginal, with a significant part designated within Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), and therefore requires specialist management. “Some of the people taking the land do not have the skills to manage an upland area. To protect these marginal pastures, a constructive management plan is required, based on traditional breeds of cattle and sheep,” Murnion told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Points system
He would like to have seen the land tendered out on a points system, where 20% of the score related to the price being bid and 80% on the experience of the farmer to operate in these areas.
“Instead, local farmers were forced to compete at auction against people looking to protect and maximise their subsidy payments. It looks like DARD was trying to cash in on the current market for land in NI. They are no better than other landowners exploiting farmers,” maintained Murnion.
Thurs 19 March
DARD CAP reform roadshow, Loughry Campus, Cookstown, 7pm to 9.30pm.Diane Dodds MEP, CAP roadshow with DARD speakers, Magherabouy House Hotel, Portrush, 7.45pm.SDA Group ‘rural view’ launch. Speakers: Michelle O’Neill and Cormac McKervey, Derrygonnelly Community Hall, 7pm.Fri 20 March
NI Simmental, 27 bulls, eight females, 20 commercial females, show 10.30am, sale 1pm, Dungannon mart.Multi-breed beef bull sale, Ballymena mart, Co Antrim,
11am.Sat 21 March
In-calf suckler cows and heifer dispersal, 210 head for N & J Alexander, Jalex herd, Ballymena mart, Co Antrim, 11.30am.Farm families’ health check van, Clogher mart, 11am to 4pm.Tues 24 March
All breeds dairy sale, Kilrea mart, 11am.DARD CAP reform roadshow, Enniskillen campus, 2pm to 4.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm.Wed 25 March
Farm families’ health check van, Lisahally mart, 6.30pm to 10.30pm.Thurs 26 March
NI Holstein young breeders’ club stockjudging practice at Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara Herd, 25 Kerrs Road, Bangor, Co Down, 7.30pm. Details Andrew TN 07762 168039.DARD CAP reform roadshow, Greenmount campus, Antrim, 2pm and 7pm.Fri 27 March
Farm families’ health check van at Toy Farm & Model show, Magherabuoy House Hotel, Portrush, Co Antrim, 2pm to 9pm.Sat 28 March
Farm families’ health check van at by-gone farming vintage day, Ballygawley, 11am to 5pm.The deadline for submission of nitrates derogation applications has been extended from 1 March to 31 May 2015.
Announcing the change, Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill and Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said that the deadline has been extended for this year only to take account of new CAP rules and to enable more farmers to apply. With farmers losing land due to issues around active farmers, a number could find themselves over the 170kg limit for nitrogen from livestock manure, and liable to a cross-compliance penalty.
The derogation allows a 250kg limit, although derogated farms must have a fertilisation plan, carry out soil sampling, have a farm phosphorus balance below 10kg/P/ha/year and have at least 80% grassland.
Manure from pigs and poultry is not eligible for the higher derogation limit. An application must be made annually to the NI Environment Agency.
Welcoming the announcement, Ulster Farmers’ Union president Ian Marshall said: “I would urge any farmer who feels that they may need a derogation to seriously consider their options now and, if necessary, submit an application to NIEA by the 31 May closing date.”
Advice on the derogation is available from CAFRE on 0300 200 7841.
SHARING OPTIONS