Sheep census
Niall Hurson on 12 Feb 2021
Deadline for return of sheep census looms
The ICSA warns that any sheep farmer who fails to return their census on time risks losing their payments under the scheme.
Darren Carty on 10 Feb 2021
Sheep Management: weather challenges, laboratory analysis and sheep census
Some parts of the country are forecast to receive snow, while lower temperatures could present challenges for newborn lambs both indoors and outdoors.
Barry Cassidy on 02 Feb 2021
Reminder: last chance to submit your sheep census
Completion and return of the annual sheep census form is a legal obligation on the keeper.
Darren Carty on 29 Jan 2021
Schemes update: Sheep farmers reminded to complete sheep census online
The deadline for the census is 31 January for hardcopy applications, leaving farmers who have yet to submit returns choosing the online option, which has a deadline of 15 February 2021.
Darren Carty on 06 Jan 2021
Sheep management: Reviewing suitability of replacements and clostridial vaccine
With sheep factory prices on the rise again, some farmers may be assessing the quality of their ewe lamb replacements, with a view to cashing in on those that do not meet the grade.
Darren Carty on 31 Dec 2020
Sheep census online portal open for submissions
The Department of Agriculture’s agfood.ie facility opened on 31 December to coincide with the selected date for recording the number of sheep and goats on farms.
Darren Carty on 22 Dec 2020
Sheep management: silage eye, soil analysis and season’s greetings
With supplementary feeding increasing in frequency, there is a greater risk of an ailment often referred to as silage eye, which is linked to sore eyes and temporary blindness in sheep.
Darren Carty on 20 Dec 2020
Welsh sheep flock falls 6% in June 2020 census
There were 412,000 fewer sheep aged one year and over on farms while there were also 132,000 fewer lambs recorded compared to June 2019.
Darren Carty on 16 Dec 2020
Department encourages online sheep census returns
The online facility, accessible through Agfood.ie, allows farmers to view previous years' returns and gives immediate clarity that the sheep census has been submitted.
Darren Carty on 09 Dec 2020
Sheep Management: winter shearing and SWS retention numbers
The sheep welfare scheme reference number must be maintained across the calendar year to receive maximum payment.
Darren Carty on 31 Oct 2020
Preparing for sheep inspections: the important aspects to consider
The sheep census continues to be the greatest cause of penalties in cross-compliance inspections, while failure to keep records up to date also features strongly.
Darren Carty on 27 May 2020
Sheep Management: water supplies, SWS ewes numbers and nematodirus
It is important to ensure that ewes and lambs have access to a regular water supply.
Darren Carty on 16 May 2020
Selling cull ewes and abiding by SWS requirements
To receive maximum payment in the Sheep Welfare Scheme requires the flock maintaining their reference number on a year-round basis.
Darren Carty on 13 May 2020
Ewe numbers increase marginally to 2.57m head
There was also a carryover of 65,723 other sheep which has underpinned a higher kill to date in 2020.
Darren Carty on 06 May 2020
National ewe flocks increases slightly to 2.57m head
The results of the Department of Agriculture annual sheep and goat census also recorded an increase of 63,675 head in the other sheep category.
Darren Carty on 12 Feb 2020
Sheep management: hypothermia in lambs and supplementing ewes
Current weather is particularly hard on stock so supplementation levels may need to be increased to ensure nutritional demands are optimally satisfied.
Barry Cassidy on 31 Jan 2020
Weekend weather: rainy start to February
There will be rain at times over the weekend to interrupt otherwise dry but blustery conditions.
Barry Cassidy on 29 Jan 2020
Deadline for sheep census approaching
Online sheep census forms will be accepted until midnight on Friday 14 February.
Brian Nicholson on 08 Jan 2020
Farmer Writes: form-filling the first task of 2020
As always with the start of the year, Brian Nicholson will be spending a good bit of time in the farm office filling out a number of paper exercises.
Darren Carty on 11 Dec 2019
Sheep Management: feeding early lambing ewes and SWS ewe numbers
The recommended feeding programme for early lambing ewes will be greatly influenced by ewe condition and forage quality.