Sheep welfare scheme: the deadline for completing many tasks in the Sheep Welfare Scheme is 17 October 2025. The exception to this is for participants who selected the later action deadline date of 28 November.

The footbathing action has an earlier completion date of 1 October 2025 as per the scheme terms and conditions. Farmers should have received a scheme record action booklet for both the Sheep Welfare Scheme and the Sheep Improvement Scheme. These do not need to be submitted to the Department unless requested.

Solantel withdrawal period: the withdrawal period of the sheep drench Solantel 50mg/ml Oral Suspension for Sheep (closantel 50mg) has increased from 42 days to 56 days with immediate effect. Manufacturers of the product, Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, are asking “that users respect these new withdrawal periods with immediate effect pending the availability of new stock with updated labelling reflecting the revised withdrawal periods”.

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Solantel 50 mg/ml Oral Suspension for Sheep is indicated for use for the treatment of chronic and subacute fasciolosis (due to Fasciola hepatica). The product is effective against mature and late immature flukes (from five weeks immature). It is also indicated for the treatment of Oestrus ovis (Sheep Nasal Bot Fly) and for the treatment of inhibited, L4 and adult stages of Haemonchus contortus.

Fertiliser closing stocks: the deadline for declaring closing fertiliser stocks is 15 October 2025. A nil declaration still must be submitted even where no fertiliser is on hand. Submitting a declaration is relatively straightforward as follows;

Log on to your agfood account. Scroll down to national fertiliser database. Click on the three dots under the word ‘actions’ and ‘closing stocks’. On the next webpage tick the relevant box. If declaring no stocks a pop up box will appear to confirm. If declaring a closing stock then you will be brought through to a facility to select the fertiliser type / volume.

Non-productive investments: the deadline for submitting applications for non-productive investments (NPIs) for farmers participating in ACRES Co-operation is 17 October 2025. There is an extensive listing of eligible investments which can be found on www.farmersjournal.ie or via the ACRES page on the Department’s website.

Sheep Ireland hill sheep sale: the catalogue for Sheep Ireland’s hill ram sale should now be available on www.sheep.ie. There are over 200 rams across the hill sheep breeding groups entered for Friday night’s sale (10 October) which takes place in Manorhamilton Mart, Co Leitrim at 7pm. The catalogue for the Sliabh Liag Longwool Perth Sheep Breeders Association sale in Ballybofey and Stranorlar mart, Co Donegal on 11 October is also published.

Date for diary: a Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme farm walk will take place on the farm of Eddie Gavin, Fenniscourt, Co Carlow (R95P952) on Wednesday 15 October at 2.30pm. Topics covered include an overview of the mixed sheep, beef and tillage system, ewe performance and breeding plans, lamb performance and finishing options and integrating forage crops.