Sheep welfare scheme deadline: Any farmer who has yet to apply for the 2026 National Sheep Welfare Scheme and wishes to do so needs to act fast with the closing date at 11.59pm on Friday 15 May. A payment of up to €13 per head is available for completing two mandatory tasks and an optional task.

The mandatory category A options available to farmers are shearing, body condition scoring and appropriate follow-on management or vaccination of ewes (clostridial disease or bluetongue virus vaccination).

Completion of these two tasks will secure payment of €8 per ewe based on the payable number of ewes applied for at application stage.

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The optional category B options worth an additional payment of up to €5 per head include footbathing or plunge dipping to control external parasites.

Applicants must also select at application stage if they will complete actions by 13 October 2026 or 24 November 2026. The later completion date will however push payment back until January 2027 at the earliest.

Applications must be completed online via the MyAgfood.ie or agfood.ie facility. To apply select the NSWS tab. On the next webpage select the 2026 NSWS option from the ‘select scheme’ dropdown and the same from the ‘select application type’ dropdown. Then click on the tab to ‘create claim’. On the next webpage check that you are happy with the payable number and select the options and completion date, followed by ticking all the declarations and ensuring that you submit the application before leaving the page.

Weed control in ACRES: Grass growth rates remain below normal but growth of weeds are thriving. Spraying is generally a better option for treatment of weeds, docks and nettles as by the time they have reached a height for treatment with a weed licker/wiper they have often progressed beyond the optimum stage for treatment.

For docks, nettles and thistles the recommended timing for treatment is what is known as the rosette stage. This is when plants are at a height of 100mm to 250mm (6” to 10”) for docks and nettles and a height of around 200mm (8”) for thistles.

Advice differs for species rich swards and especially in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme. Spraying is prohibited in parcels entered as extensively grazed pasture or low input grassland in ACRES.

The terms and conditions state that pesticides and herbicides are not permitted, except to spot treat or weed wipe to control noxious and invasive species.

Boom spraying herbicides is not permitted. Rushes can be controlled by topping, grazing or weed wiping/spot spraying. Rush management must not take place until after 1 July and should be carried out in rotation, with the terms and conditions advising that no more than 50% of the field is managed by topping or weed wiping/spot spraying in any one year.

Trading hoggets: The Islamic religious festival of Eid Al-Adha takes place from 26 to 30 May 2026. It is likely to help to keep a floor under demand for sheep and in particular provide demand for remaining hoggets on the market. Hogget prices thereafter will depend on supply and demand but it is likely that the focus will turn to spring lamb. As such it is worth assessing your options where you have hoggets remaining on hand and marketing at an opportune time to maximise returns.