Vegetation
Peter McCann on 09 Jun 2021
Peat compost to be banned in NI by 2025
A new peatland strategy for Northern Ireland was published by DAERA on Wednesday.
Darren Carty on 19 May 2021
Think carefully before you spray rushes and weeds
The maintenance of low input permanent pasture is the dominant measure selected under REAP and spraying of these areas could have a marked effect on the level of payment achieved.
Amy Forde on 16 May 2021
Goat herder wanted on Howth head for €45,000/year
The Old Irish Goat herd will be used for grazing of the extensive heathlands on Howth, on behalf of Fingal County Council.
Darren Carty on 28 Apr 2021
REAP may suit many beef and sheep farmers
There is a large cohort of beef and sheep farmers who, on paper, are a perfect fit for REAP and who should give careful consideration to it. Adam Woods and Darren Carty report.
Niall Hurson on 04 Apr 2021
International experts called in to help prevent wildfires on Sliabh Beagh
The experts will help define how fires spread and model how this may change in the future as a result of climate change.
Niall Hurson on 19 Mar 2021
Department to inspect 130ha of burned land
The Department has said it will contact those applicants who apply on burned lands in 2021, informing them of the consequence on their eligible area for payment.
Barry Cassidy on 16 Mar 2021
Kildare farmer fined €2,500 for illegal destruction of vegetation
The case was taken on behalf by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Amy Forde on 10 Mar 2021
Almost 180 farmers' payments cut due to burning and overclaiming land
Some 231 land parcels and 1,705 ha of land were identified as burned during the closed period in 2020, with farmers's BPS payments cut as a result.
Barry Cassidy on 08 Mar 2021
Fire services respond to several weekend hill fires
Fire crews were called to blazes on Scarr mountain in Wicklow and Conlawn Hill in Laois over the weekend.
Barry Cassidy on 01 Mar 2021
Hedge-cutting period now closed
The cutting or trimming of hedges is not permitted between 1 March and 31 August.
Andy Doyle on 08 Feb 2021
Integration is the basis of survival
In a state where scale is large and the climate is harsh, the integration of livestock and cropping is critical for farm survival.
Peter McCann on 30 Dec 2020
Money for bushes and ungrazed bog
Only land that is used for “agricultural activity” can currently be used for claiming area-based payments in Northern Ireland.
Amy Forde on 06 Dec 2020
Drain blocking among the actions for Bord na Móna bog scheme
Some 33,000ha of bog which was previously used for peat extraction is to be rewet by Bord na Móna under a new bog rehabilitation scheme.
Amy Forde on 07 Oct 2020
New Zealand farms could be offsetting on-farm emissions by up to 118%
New Zealand’s beef and sheep farms are close to being carbon neutral, according to new research.
Barry Cassidy on 01 Sep 2020
September marks beginning of hedge-cutting season
The open period for hedge cutting runs from 1 September until 28 February.
Donal Magner on 29 Jul 2020
Aim to achieve 18% forest cover by mid-century unrealistic
Instead, a planting programme with a wide geographical spread could add 300,000ha of private forests – 4% of the land area – by 2050 and allow forestry to grow organically
Niall Hurson on 29 Jul 2020
Tipperary man prosecuted for destruction of vegetation during nesting season
Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts, it is an offence to destroy vegetation from 1 March to 31 August each year.
Gary Abbott on 22 Jul 2020
Blaney Agri introduces HDX cutting head
Blaney Agri has added the HDX Excavator Cutting Head to its hedgerow maintenance range, with models to suit mini diggers right up to 20t machines.
Amy Forde on 17 Jun 2020
Department refused access to wildlife information on Heritage Bill
The Heritage Bill provides for the reduction of the closed period for the cutting and burning of vegetation.
Hannah Quinn-Mulligan on 05 Jun 2020
CAP money has not helped biodiversity – EU auditors
The watchdog has said that they found intensive farming remained a main cause of biodiversity loss on farms across Europe.