Paperwork pressure tops Irish farmers' concerns
This concern outranks even rising input costs (54%) and weather unpredictability (48%), highlighting the growing administrative burden on the sector.
From Bord Bia Quality Assurance to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) scheme requirements, farmers are expected to keep meticulous records on everything from animal remedies to feed purchases, herd movements, and farm safety checks.
While these regulations are intended to maintain high standards and secure market access, the sheer volume of paperwork is eroding valuable on-farm time.
In recent years, compliance demands have multiplied:
Scheme participation: Each grant or payment from BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability) to TAMS (Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes) comes with detailed documentation and strict deadlines.
Bord Bia audits: Farmers must produce complete up-to-date records instantly during inspections.
Farmers must produce complete up-to-date records instantly during inspections.
Environmental requirements: Nitrates derogation limits, water quality measures, and climate action plans all require accurate logging of inputs and outputs.
Without an organised system, these records can become scattered across paper files, notebooks, and spreadsheets, making audits a source of stress and, in some cases, financial penalties.
Falling short on paperwork does not just mean a bit of extra hassle. It can delay scheme payments, lead to grant penalties, or even put a farm's quality assurance status at risk.
For farmers relying on these payments to keep cashflow steady, a small oversight can turn into a major headache.
That is why many are now looking for ways to bring all their records under one roof, preferably in a format that can be updated on the go, not just at the kitchen table after dark.
This is where Herdwatch has been gaining ground. Instead of shuffling through binders and boxes of receipts, farmers can log their records on a phone, tablet, or computer as they go.
Here is how it changes the game:
No more backlogs: Treatments, feed purchases, calf registrations - enter them instantly while you are still in the yard
Treatments, feed purchases, calf registrations - enter them instantly while you are still in the yard
Audit in minutes, not hours : Generate a full report for an inspection at the click of a button, with no need to hunt for old files.
: Generate a full report for an inspection at the click of a button, with no need to hunt for old files.
One place for everything : From breeding records to safety checks, it is all stored securely in the cloud.
: From breeding records to safety checks, it is all stored securely in the cloud.
Works with farm tech: If you use EID readers or weigh heads, the data flows straight into Herdwatch without extra typing.
Co. Galway suckler farmer Donal Canniffe. Source: Herdwatch
For many Herdwatch users, the biggest benefit is simple - peace of mind.
One of them is Co. Galway suckler farmer Donal Canniffe, who has found that the app takes much of the sting out of red tape and makes compliance far less of a headache.
He said: 'Before Herdwatch, the thought of an audit was enough to cause serious stress.
"Now, with Herdwatch, getting ready for an audit is the easiest part of the job.'
That confidence is worth a lot in a sector where rules are tightening and inspections can be unannounced.
The IFAC report makes it clear: Irish farming is battling a paperwork overload.
But with the right tools, compliance does not have to be an energy drain. Herdwatch offers farmers a way to stay on top of regulations without sacrificing time, accuracy, or peace of mind.
Join over 20,000 farmers across Ireland and the UK simplifying farm paperwork and improving farm performance.
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