One in four farmers incurred a penalty as a result of a cross-compliance inspection, according to the latest Department of Agriculture figures.
Some 5,813 cross-compliance inspections were carried out in 2018.
Almost 40% of these were clear, while 35% identified only minor breaches which did not incur a financial penalty.
However, 25% (1,549) of farmers inspected were issued with penalties. Of those, 1,333 farmers lost up to 5% of their payment. Twenty farmers lost their entire full payment.
The number of breaches rose by 12% between 2017 and 2018.
The most common problems were:
Cattle identification and registration: 3,144 breaches, 978 penalties.Sheep/goat identification and registration: 471 breaches, 260 penalties.Protection of water (nitrates): 269 breaches, 201 penalties.Retention of landscape features and designated habitats and control of invasive species – 108 breaches, 89 penalties.Plant protection products (pesticides): 73 breaches, 50 penalties.The number of land eligibility over-claims fell in 2018, down 16%.
The number of breaches rose by 12% between 2017 and 2018
Some 937 out of 1,240 reductions were for over-claims of less than 3% or 2ha. A further 207 were for over-claims between 3% and 10% and the remaining 96 farmers over claimed by more than 10%.
Some 205 farmers over-claimed under the BPS for the first time and while there were 208 first-time offenders in the ANC, it is likely there was an overlap of farmers in these schemes. Seven young farmers over-claimed for the first time.
Yellow card concerns
IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy has called for changes to the yellow card system to remove the threat of further penalties.
Under the system, a farmer over-declaring for the first time has any penalty reduced by 50%, provided the over-declaration does not exceed 10%.
Kennedy raised concerns that there was no “washout” period for a farmer who received a yellow card.
Read more
Chlorine cross-compliance issues
Farm inspections: ‘we’re always living in fear’
One in four farmers incurred a penalty as a result of a cross-compliance inspection, according to the latest Department of Agriculture figures.
Some 5,813 cross-compliance inspections were carried out in 2018.
Almost 40% of these were clear, while 35% identified only minor breaches which did not incur a financial penalty.
However, 25% (1,549) of farmers inspected were issued with penalties. Of those, 1,333 farmers lost up to 5% of their payment. Twenty farmers lost their entire full payment.
The number of breaches rose by 12% between 2017 and 2018.
The most common problems were:
Cattle identification and registration: 3,144 breaches, 978 penalties.Sheep/goat identification and registration: 471 breaches, 260 penalties.Protection of water (nitrates): 269 breaches, 201 penalties.Retention of landscape features and designated habitats and control of invasive species – 108 breaches, 89 penalties.Plant protection products (pesticides): 73 breaches, 50 penalties.The number of land eligibility over-claims fell in 2018, down 16%.
The number of breaches rose by 12% between 2017 and 2018
Some 937 out of 1,240 reductions were for over-claims of less than 3% or 2ha. A further 207 were for over-claims between 3% and 10% and the remaining 96 farmers over claimed by more than 10%.
Some 205 farmers over-claimed under the BPS for the first time and while there were 208 first-time offenders in the ANC, it is likely there was an overlap of farmers in these schemes. Seven young farmers over-claimed for the first time.
Yellow card concerns
IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy has called for changes to the yellow card system to remove the threat of further penalties.
Under the system, a farmer over-declaring for the first time has any penalty reduced by 50%, provided the over-declaration does not exceed 10%.
Kennedy raised concerns that there was no “washout” period for a farmer who received a yellow card.
Read more
Chlorine cross-compliance issues
Farm inspections: ‘we’re always living in fear’
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