Thursday, 9th


November 2017


info@eastcorkjournal.ie


EAST CORK AGRICULTURE info@eastcorkjournal.ie


IFA Opposes Factory Clipping Charges On Sheep


IFA National Sheep


Chairman John Lynskey said farmers are strongly opposed to the lamb fac- tories imposing clipping charges on sheep slaugh- tered. He said the across the


board clipping charge being applied by some lamb factories on all sheep is working against and undermining the De- partment


of Agriculture


Clean Sheep Policy. John Lynskey said the


IFA, the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc and Meat


Industry Ireland


worked hard in produc- ing a guide for the Clean Sheep Policy and its im- plementation is now being undermined by some of the factories. The IFA sheep farm-


er leader said factories should not be imposing charges under the Clean Sheep Policy and any


costs associated with re- quired action at


factory


level should be incorpo- rated into normal running costs of the factory. John Lynskey said farm-


ers take great care in their lamb production and the vast majority ensure that their lambs are clean and fit for slaughter.


Given the of the seriousness fodder situation


in some parts of country, particularly all along the west coast, it is imperative that all BPS payments are made without any further delay, IFA Deputy Pres- ident


Richard Kennedy


has insisted. Around 11,000 farmers to receive their BPS


have yet advance


payment


of 70%. The main issues holding up payments are inspections, including satellite


itisation, transfers, dual claims and over


inspections, dig- claims.


Department Agrees To Full Re-Think On Tractor Testing


IFA have secured a com- mitment from the Depart- ment of Transport


that


there will be full negotia- tion with the IFA and oth- er key stakeholders ahead of the implementation of any aspects of a roadwor- thiness test for tractors. Earlier


this year, when


IFA raised farmers’ con- cerns on the issue, Minister for Transport Shane Ross gave a clear commitment that ahead of the drafting of any national regulations on tractor testing, the RSA would engage with key stakeholders affected. This did not happen and Min- ister Ross proceeded


to


sign the relevant Statutory Instrument into law last month without any consul- tation. At a recent meeting with


IFA, the Department of Transport fully accepted that the commitment to consultation had not been honoured and assured the IFA delegation


that full consultation would now


take place on all aspects of the relevant Statutory Instrument. The


tory Instrument will IFA President


reviewed in the coming weeks. Following the meeting, Joe Healy


said, “There was an ac- ceptance that the consul- tation process promised to IFA will now take place in full with all aspects on the table. We will now get down to negotiations with the Minister and the De- partment to ensure that normal farming activities are excluded from tractor testing. We expect all trac- tors used for farming and for bringing farm produce and raw ma- terials


to and


from the point of sale will not be


subject testing.” Liam Dunne, IFA @eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal eastcorkjournal Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie to National


Statu- be


Grain Chair-


man welcomed the De- partment’s commitment, saying it is very important that the realities of farm- ing and the


obligations


farmers already face are taken into


consideration.


He said, “Famers are legal- ly required under the Safe- ty, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to ensure that brakes, handbrake, mirrors, lights, indicators, wipers and hitches are all in working order. There is no need to duplicate the requirements imposed on farmers.”


Thomas Cooney, IFA


Environment Chairman said many farms are di- vided into several parcels, with outfarms some dis- tance away common place. “The majority of farmers are not involved in com- mercial haulage and are not getting paid for trans- porting their


livestock to


marts and factories, which are often some distance away. Once farmers are compliant with the 2005 Act, this should be suffi- cient and should not be duplicated by the Depart- ment of Transport.”


23


Deadline Monday at noon


Outstanding Payments Urgently Needed Due To Fodder And Cashflow Crisis


These issues must be re- solved without delay, the IFA Deputy President has urged. Richard Kennedy ac- knowledged the mencement


com- of Knowl-


edge Transfer payments. He said it is important that the Minister for Ag- riculture Michael Creed proceeds with GLAS pay- ments to 50,000 farmers who are due their 2017 payment. Payment delays under GLAS will not be tolerated by farmers given the difficulties that arose with last year’s payment.


The IFA Deputy Presi-


dent also called on farm- ers in GLAS I and II who have


not yet submitted


their nutrient manage- ment plans to do so im- mediately, as they cannot be paid their final 15% for 2016 until the plan is submitted, and their 2017 payment will also be held up.


In relation to common-


age plans, Richard Kenne- dy said it is important that farmers continue to send in their plans, even though the deadline of October 31st


has now passed. IFA


has received a commit- ment


from the Depart-


ment that payments will be made once common- age plans are submitted. Payments under the Sheep Welfare BDGP


Scheme, and Organic


Scheme are also due to farmers before the end of the year. Richard Kennedy re- minded farmers that


the


IFA operates a payments helpline service and any member who has an issue can contact IFA for assis- tance on 1890 989 878 or payments@ifa.ie.


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