Red Tractor reviews industry standards

Assured Food Standards, which operates the British Red Tractor Scheme (of which the NI Farm Quality Assurance Scheme is a part), has launched a consultation on a review to its standards to be implemented from October 2017.

The review is conducted every three years, with a number of changes proposed this time around to reflect increasing concerns about antibiotic resistance, the drive to improve farm biosecurity, animal welfare and new regulations restricting the use of rodenticides.

In the current standard, farmers are expected to control rodents. However, under the new rules there is a much greater emphasis on the responsible use of baits. Non-chemical control should be used in the first instance, and permanent baits must not be routinely used unless there is evidence they are being consistently effective.

The review has enhanced requirements around offering livestock fresh, clean water. Water troughs should be kept free of dirt and be of sufficient capacity not to run dry when animals are drinking.

The review also proposes that a documented farm biosecurity plan is kept.

However, probably the most significant change proposed relates to medicine records, with antibiotics used on the farm to be clearly identifiable in medicine records (eg written in a different colour pen). Total antibiotic use on the unit will have to be collated annually.

Other changes proposed include keeping fallen stock out of view of the general public, and enhanced requirements around records relating to the safe use of pesticides and disposal of empty spray bottles or unused product.

If spraying operations are contracted, contractors must be registered with the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO), and this membership number should be recorded.

The consultation on the proposed changes closes on 31 December 2016.

Young farmer competition

The Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) 2016 Young Farmer of the Year competition will begin at club level on 24 November.

The competition takes place over three rounds and typically involves around 800 participants each year. The first stage is a one-hour multiple choice question paper with the senior section paper comprising 60 questions and junior section 30 questions. The top three from each club then complete a longer multiple choice paper, with the top-scoring participants then invited to take part in a practical assessment day in round three.

“The Ulster Young Farmer of the Year competition gives members the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of farming and farming practice and also helps them to further develop career building skills,” YFCU president Roberta Simmons said.

UFU opposes digital tax plan

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has responded to a consultation by the HMRC on introducing digital-only tax returns by outlining its opposition to the proposals.

“This raises a familiar problem – the lack of quality, accessible broadband coverage in many parts of NI,” UFU deputy president Ivor Ferguson said.

He pointed out that costs would rise for many farmers as agents would have to be used to file returns and that there is currently a lack of clarity on what help would be made available for “digitally excluded” farmers.

The proposals would see changes from 2018, with the phasing out of annual tax return by 2020. The UFU has said HMRC should delay the plans until issues with broadband in rural areas, and digital training for applicants, have been addressed.