Thursday, 9th


August 2018


East Cork


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Agriculture


IFA STATEMENT ON MINISTER CREED’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FODDER PRODUCTION


IFA President Joe Healy


said that the Minister’s an- nouncement of a scheme to the value of €2.75 mil- lion, to encourage farmers to plant fast growing fod- der crops as a catch crop, was welcome.


“We welcome this an-


nouncement from the Minister. Growing fodder crops on tillage ground has the potential to play a part in closing the National fodder deficit arising from drought.” he said.


IFA Grain Chairman Mark Browne also wel-


Teagasc Appoint New Specialists


Teagasc has appoint-


ed Francis Quigley as a farm machinery and milking machine


spe-


cialist, and Tom Fallon as a farm buildings and infrastructures special- ist. These new appoint- ments reflect the chang- ing demands arising from the


development of Irish farming.


Francis Quigley pre- viously worked as a machinery technician based in Kildalton Ag- ricultural College. In this role


he delivered


training to a wide range of students on the safe operation and main- tenance


chinery and the design and fabrication of farm equipment


since 2013.


From a dairy farming background in Coun- ty Waterford, Fran- cis Quigley previously worked as a farm ma- chinery specialist for the Irish Farmers Journal, and performed technical sales roles for a number


of farm ma-


of farm machinery com- panies. He has over 15 years’ experience work- ing with farmers on the design and construction of milking parlours and other farm buildings. Francis qualified in Ag- ricultural Engineering from Tralee IT and completed a Masters in Construction Project Management in WIT.


Tom Fallon has a Master’s Degree


from


UCD and has graduate Diplomas in Rural En- vironment Management and Farm Financial Management. He is cer- tified as a ‘Cow Signals’ trainer. From a farming background in Coun- ty Meath, he has been a dairy advisor in East Waterford for almost 28 years. During this time he has gained extensive experience in building design and farm layout. He enjoys engaging with the complexity of farm- yard development. In the context of Irelands


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal INCENTIVE MEASURE


comed the scheme and he said that


it must be kept


simple. “We cannot afford to have any uncertainty or unnecessary bureaucracy around this scheme. These crops need to be sown ur- gently as we are now in the month of August” he said.


21


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Deadline Monday at noon


MINISTER CREED NEEDS TO DELIVER REAL MEASURES TO HELP FARMERS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT


While visiting a number of farms af- fected by drought, IFA President


under the GLAS scheme which would be of much greater


Joe Healy


said that Minister Mi- chael Creed needs to deliver real measures to help farmers on ground.


“The recent announce-


ment by EU Commission- er Phil Hogan to allow a 70% advance


payments


under the Basic Payment Scheme is welcome, how- ever the benefit of this will not be seen until October 16th


” he said. “While the derogation


for the production of an- imal feed on fallow land is also welcome, important flexibilities are required


“The Government must


also explore the additional flexibility under state rules to support farmers at this extremely difficult time” he said.


“As a matter of urgen-


cy, Minister Creed must now clarify what exact measures he has sought and is seeking from Brus- sels. It is reported today that no formal request


welcomes the Minister’s announcement


assistance. IFA that


he


is committing a fund of €2.75 million to a Fod- der Production Incentive Scheme for tillage farm- ers.”


has been submitted by the Minister for a number of derogations that


that farmers are allowed to


are


needed under the GLAS scheme to help farmers to save more fodder before the winter” he said.


more flexibility on fertil- iser


rules


“Farmers also need application


to


allow them to maximise grass growth in the next few months” he said.


The drought is still af-


fecting many parts of the country, with minimal grass growth and signif- icant impacts on spring cereals and vegetables. There are now huge feed bills on many farms.


If the rain continues to


fall farmers may have a narrow window to max- imise grass growth and save as much fodder as possible. EU restrictions which limit this must be lifted.


“What we asking for is


dairy industry expansion Tom is very conscious of the challenge to provide adequate


storage facil-


ities for slurry, labour efficient milking facilities and farmyards, meet- ing the highest animal welfare standards, while providing a pleasant and safe


environment farm workers.


Congratulating Fran- cis on his appointment, Curriculum Develop- ment & Standards Man- ager Frank Murphy said: “Farmers have invested in additional stock and facilities to achieve ad- ditional output. Invest- ment in farm buildings and milking facilities is a long term investment and needs careful plan- ning. I am delighted that Francis has been appointed to support investment


decisions


around both machinery and milking machine technology. “


Fintan Phelan, Head


of Farm Management and Rural Development Knowledge


Transfer department in Teagasc, eastcorkjournal for welcomed Tom to his


new role and highlight- ed its importance say- ing; “National Farm Survey for 2017 showed Gross New Investment on Irish farms in the year to be €835 mil- lion, much of which is in farm buildings and infrastructure. It is im- perative


that advisors


receive the best training and support possible to assist farmers in making these important invest- ment decisions. Key ar- eas are farm safety and labour efficiency, while always keeping an eye on potential future de- velopment on the farm. It is equally important that the financial com- mitment


is sustainable


for the farm enterprise”. Tom Ryan has retired


after a long career in Teagasc, giving many years of dedicated ser- vice


to the position.


Based in Kildalton, Tom Ryan provided a wealth of information for farm- ers and colleagues in both advisory and edu- cation services in Tea- gasc. #


have


help a


themselves. We chronic fodder


shortage and if we don’t act now it will too late” he said.


He must also introduce


the low cost loans prom- ised as far back October during last year’s budget speech and this must be available for working cap- ital.


“Many farmers have


now run up huge debts with their co-ops and mer- chants purchasing


addi-


tional feed. Opening up the low costs loans could few over €150m in li- quidity for farmers which would help to pay feed bills.” he said.


IFA has published a full


list of actions needed to help alleviate the crisis. https://www.ifa.ie/


drought-crisis-urgent-gov- e rnment- act ion- r e - quired/#.W2LZrFBK- g2w


ICSA WELCOMES DEER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE FOR WICKLOW AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION


ICSA rural develop-


ment chairman Seamus Sherlock has welcomed the signing of a contract with the Wicklow Uplands Council for the provision of


Deer Management


Services in the Wicklow Region. Mr Sherlock said, “This is indeed a step in the right direction, howev- er it must be viewed as just that, a step. Primarily, it is an important acknowl- edgement


Department


have the potential to im- pact adversely on agri- culture’, but we must go further.”


“The consequences of


uncontrolled deer popu- lations in Wicklow have been felt


for too long by


by both the of Agricul-


ture and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that ‘unsus- tainable deer populations


local farmers. Grazing pastures and feed sup- plies are being mercilessly raided on a daily basis. This is coupled with the above average number of TB reactor cattle in those areas populated by deer and amounts to an intol- erable situation for many. Mandatory TB testing on


culled deer must be made a priority.”


these


“There is no doubt that farmers have


felt


abandoned in recent years as the deer multiplied.”


ICSA Wicklow chair-


man Tom Stephenson added, “Regrettably, there is no funding provided for professional shooters to assist with the deer man- agement


numbers have


process. Deer risen to


completely unmanageable levels and leisure shooters cannot possibly deliver an adequate impact.”


Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


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