Latest news with #DAFM
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Heydon: ‘Hopeful signs' on forestry planting this year
There are 'hopeful signs' on forestry planting this year which is up 'nearly 150% on the same period last year' according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. In response to a question tabled by the Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Kenny, the minister added: 'There is more to come, with another 1,600 hectares already committed to or commenced planting, and a further 4,490 hectares licenced but not yet planted'. According to Minister Heydon the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 'represents the largest ever investment by an Irish Government in tree-planting' and was put in place to incentivise farmers to see tree-planting as an additional income stream or diversification option. Deputy Kenny had tabled a question in the Dáil requesting the minister to outline the number of 'recipients currently receiving afforestation premiums under afforestation schemes from 2005 to date'. Forestry Minister Heydon said that around 9,788 individual forest owners are due premia payments in 2025, for 87,893ha planted under afforestation schemes since 2005. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) also provided details to Deputy Kenny in relation to the number of hectares of forestry planted and the breakdown of the number of hectares of forestry, per forest types 1 to 12, under the current afforestation scheme. Forest types/hectares of forestry planted Source: DAFM Forestry licences Separately the Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Matt Carthy, also asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the number number of forestry licences issued in each quarter one from 2019 to 2025. Number of forestry licences issued in Q1 over the last 7 years Source: DAFM According to Minister Heydon forestry licences should be processed within six months for screened-out applications (those not subject to appropriate assessment) and within nine months for screened-in applications (those subject to appropriate assessment). He also told Deputy Carthy: 'My department will publish a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2025 in the coming weeks, taking account of developments on foot of the fallout from storms Darragh and Éowyn. 'Now that the satellite assessment of the extent of the damage is complete, my department can assess the information and plan in more detail accordingly. 'The plan will cover afforestation, roads, private and Coillte felling licences'.
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
DAFM: Nearly 700 IDR inspections completed this year
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has carried out almost 700 identification and registration (IDR) inspections so far this year. Since 2023, DAFM has been managing cases of non-compliance on livestock traceability through fixed payment notices instead of cross compliance penalties. In the event of serious non-compliance with livestock identification and movement rules being found, the department has the power to issue a fixed payment notice at a flat rate of €250. Failure to pay that penalty within 28 days could result in a court appearance and an increased risk of further inspection. This system replaced the previous approach where a penalty was deducted from a farmer's direct payments. DAFM As of May 15, the department confirmed to Agriland that it had completed 671 IDR inspections across the country. No compliance notices advising of a herd restriction in relation to serious identification, registration, and movement non-compliances have been issued. In 2024, the department completed 4,535 IDR inspections, with 459 herds issued with compliance notices and restricted due to serious non-compliances. A DAFM spokesperson said: '357 withdrawal notices were issued to farmers who have engaged with the department to resolve the non-compliances identified at the inspection. 'No fixed penalty notices have issued in relation to non-compliances identified as part IDR inspections, nor has any farmer faced a court appearance. 'The department is currently reviewing the herds that remain restricted and considering the next steps required,' the spokesperson added. Trends identified at IDR inspections to date show that farmers who were issued notices had multiple tagging and record-keeping non-compliance instances. The department issued the following advice to farmers on best practices to avoid an IDR compliance notice: Tag all livestock by tagging deadlines; Register all calves within seven days of tagging; Notify movements of all livestock promptly; Replace lost tags promptly; Keep the herd/flock register up-to-date at all times.
Agriland
3 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
Minister's TB proposals need to be ‘balanced and fair'
Ongoing discussions that aim to reset the country's TB programme must result in an 'action plan' that establishes 'the requirements' on each stakeholder from farmers right through to other players in the livestock industry, according to one farm organisation. The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association's (ICMSA), Dennis Drennan, said today (Wednesday, May 28) this stakeholder group should also include vets and key departments and agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). According to the department TB disease levels in recent years have increased significantly. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. Earlier this month DAFM presented an initial set of around 30 proposals to farm organisations and other stakeholders at an extraordinary 'summit' hosted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. This was followed up with a series of bilateral meetings between the minister and farm organisations and other stakeholders where a revised set of proposals were put forward. TB According to Drennan an action plan on TB could be formulated that is 'perfectly attainable and could be agreed and implemented in a way that treated everyone with respect and fairness'. But the ICMSA president has also warned that farmers have 'very legitimate concerns' around the proposals put forward by DAFM and the minister. 'ICMSA's major concern relates to very significant requirements being placed on farmers, some of which may have serious farming and financial implications, without any corresponding requirements being placed any of the other players. 'ICMSA can't accept this singling out of farmers when it's obvious that if TB is to be dealt with, we all need clear distinct targets, procedures, and timeframes in place, certainly in relation to the role of wildlife in relation to TB spread,' Drennan added. He has also stressed that the ICMSA believe an animal should 'only be allowed to move twice following a TB test with a further TB test required if further movements take place'. He said that with the average animal moving 1.3 times in their lifetime, such a proposal would not be a major burden on farmers. Drennan also emphasised today the ICMSA is fully supportive of 'significant and meaningful actions' that will halt and then reverse the latest surge TB. 'We've always indicated that we're on board for a serious response that's going to get TB levels moving in the right direction. 'But that's going to mean that everyone involved in the movement, trade and sale of cattle plays their part as well and that must mean the finishing units, the dealers and the marts too. 'The proposals so far suggest more regulations on the farmers while everyone else carries on their sweet and unbothered way. It's not fair and it won't work,' he added.
Agriland
3 days ago
- General
- Agriland
DAFM hoping to have GAEC 2 appeals system in place next month
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is hoping to have an appeals system for Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions 2 (GAEC 2) in place shortly. Michael Moloney, senior inspector in the integrated controls division of the department, was speaking at an Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) meeting in Co. Kerry last night (Tuesday, May 27). GAEC 2 is the conditionality standard of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) related to the protection of peatlands and wetlands. It formally entered into force on May 1, which means that any works carried out before that date do not come under the scope of the condition. GAEC 2 Moloney reiterated that there are no additional actions for a farmer and they can continue to farm as normal under GAEC 2. Under the condition, the senior inspector said that the maintenance of an existing drain on is permitted and replacement is acceptable. However, he said that new drainage on never-drained parcels of land will require planning permission or an exemption from the local authority, as is currently the case under national legislation. He added that the deepening of existing drains or the extension of the drained area beyond what was previously existed is considered new drainage. Michael Moloney, senior inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Moloney told the meeting that ploughing on GAEC 2 lands is permitted to a maximum depth of 30cm on grass and arable land, which he said should not impact on farmers. Under GAEC 2, ploughing for reseeding grassland will be permitted one in every four years and annual ploughing is allowed on arable land. Appeals Approximately 35,000 farmers have been contacted by DAFM in relation to the 540,000ha covered by GAEC 2. Farmers or their advisors can check if their land is covered by the condition through the AgFood online portal. 'There will be an appeals mechanism established. We will have that out in due course, hopefully early next month. Farmers can appeal it. 'They'll have to provide evidence of soil samples etc., showing that there isn't 30% organic matter and the depth of the peat is not 30-45cm. 'The only person who really needs to appeal this is those that basically want to do something on this undrained soils in 2025. 'We'll prioritise those because we don't have the capacity to deal with a large number of people or appeals that just want to appeal it for the sake of it,' he said. Moloney noted that GAEC 2 is part of the current CAP cycle and may or may not be part of the post-2027 CAP. The DAFM senior inspector said that lands covered by GAEC 2 do not carry any legal designation, such as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs) 'GAEC 2 is not a designation, it is a classification for the basis of conditionality and it is baseline or minimum,' he said. Kerry IFA chair Jason Fleming said it is a 'massive inconvenience' for farmers having to apply for planning permission for new drains or deepening existing drains on GAEC 2 lands. 'I know you don't like using the word designation, but it feels to us like a form of designation,' he said.
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Reminder: TAMS tranche 7 closing date approaching
Farmers are being reminded that the closing date for the current round of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) is fast approaching. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) previously confirmed that the deadline for applications under tranche 7 of the scheme will be Friday, June 6. TAMS, which is divided across a range of different measures, provides grants to farmers to build or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their farm. TAMS According to the latest data published by the department, 4,621 (79%) out of the 5,823 applications submitted under this tranche have now been approved. A further 853 applications are classified as 'in progress', 278 have been rejected and 71 withdrawn. The following table provides the latest update on tranche 5 applications for the 10 schemes contained in TAMS 3: TAMS 3 scheme Applications Rejected Withdrawn In progress Approved Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme 1,409 61 26 162 1,160 Dairy Equipment Scheme 115 8 1 20 86 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme 2,112 120 17 239 1,736 Low Emission Slurry Spreading 516 2 5 3 506 Organic Capital Investment Scheme 359 13 3 50 293 Pig & Poultry Investment Scheme 32 2 1 8 21 Solar Capital Investment Scheme 513 23 4 259 227 Tillage Capital Investment Scheme 203 11 5 11 176 Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 225 20 1 43 161 Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 339 18 8 58 255 Total 5,823 278 71 853 4,621 TAMS 3 tranche 5 applications. Source: DAFM The data also shows that 162 applications made under tranche 4 are still being processed by the department. 5,253 out of 5,864 applications made under that tranche have been approved. There are 23 applications still outstanding in tranche 3. The department stated that 3,399 of the 3,799 tranche 3 applications have been approved. No update has yet been provided by DAFM on the status of the 4,931 applications submitted under tranche 6.
