Latest news with #DonalCanniffe
Agriland
17 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
Paperwork pressure tops Irish farmers' concerns
Irish farmers are facing unprecedented levels of bureaucracy, with 60% naming rules and regulations as their biggest challenge, according to the IFAC Irish Farm Report 2025. 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.
Agriland
28-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
‘I enjoy farming again': How a Galway farmer is beating paperwork stress
For many Irish farmers, the dread of paperwork and audits can take the joy out of what they love most, farming. But for Galway suckler farmer Donal Canniffe, switching to smart farm management with Herdwatch has brought that joy back. By simplifying his record-keeping and giving him full control over compliance, Donal says his audits are no longer a source of panic, they are 'the easiest part of the job'. Donal runs a productive suckler system with 22 cows and a Red Angus bull. The family farm, passed down from his father, is part of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme, meaning compliance is a non-negotiable part of farm life. Like many, Donal once relied on paper records and memory to track treatments, purchases, and calf registrations. But that system was fragile. Donal said: 'I used to record everything on paper and I'd probably lose the paper before the audit came around.' The paperwork pressure For years, getting ready for an audit meant scrambling – leafing through notebooks, re-checking remedy dates, and hoping nothing vital had been overlooked. 'Before Herdwatch, the thought of an audit was enough to cause serious stress,' Donal said. Bord Bia inspections, while essential, can be stressful for busy farmers. That stress often does not come from doing anything wrong, it comes from not being sure if everything is properly recorded and easy to access. For Donal, the anxiety around audits began to undermine the rhythm of day-to-day farm work. From guesswork to confidence Everything changed when Donal started using Herdwatch. The app allowed him to log records in real time, from medicine usage to calf registrations, directly from his phone – the simplicity and time savings were instant. 'Now, with Herdwatch, getting ready for an audit is the easiest part of the job,' he claimed. 'As long as everything is logged in the app, I just generate the reports I need, and it's done in seconds.' No more last-minute panic. No more chasing down scraps of paper. Donal says it gave him something far more valuable than just efficiency – peace of mind. Remedy records, simplified Out of all the features available, Donal says the remedy tracking function stands out the most. As soon as a medicine is purchased, it is logged in the app, and usage is automatically deducted from stock when treatments are recorded. 'As soon as I buy a remedy, I log it in Herdwatch straight away, No need for the Blue Book,' Donal said. 'Then when I treat an animal, it updates the stock and tells me exactly how much is left.' This not only reduces waste and over-purchasing, but also eliminates uncertainty around withdrawal periods and dosage levels. 'It tells me how much is left. No more guesswork,' Donal explained. A full toolbox for the modern farmer Herdwatch now forms the backbone of how Donal manages his herd. From breeding insights to weight recording and movement certs, the app ties all parts of the operation together. 'Now all the info is at my fingertips, It's very easy to use. Nothing complicated about it,' Donal said. His daily tasks are smoother, and everything, from calvings to heat observations can be logged instantly. That kind of visibility helps Donal make better decisions, without needing to keep it all in his head or scattered across notebooks and in paperwork. Donal's top features Calf Registration Remedy & Treatments Heat Detection Records Ag Food/ICBF Sync (Star rating/AI Records) Movement Certificates Feed Records 'Once you start using it, you won't go back' When asked if he would recommend Herdwatch to others, Donal does not hesitate. 'It just makes life easier,' he said. 'Once you start using it, you won't go back. It's one of the best investments made on the farm.' It is a sentiment shared by thousands of Herdwatch members across Ireland. For Donal, it is not just about technology, it is about farming smarter and rediscovering the satisfaction in running a well-managed farm. Herdwatch did not just help Donal pass his audits, it helped him take back his evenings, reduce his paperwork stress, and start enjoying farming again.
