The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D., today announced that payments worth over €185.6 million under the 2018 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme and Areas of Specific Constraint (Islands) Scheme, have commenced issuing this week to almost 77,000 farmers.

The changes will be implemented in two phases on 2 key dates, as listed below

In recent times, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, (DAFM) has received queries about the use of soluble antibiotic powders, including erythromycin and lincomycin, in footbaths to treat lameness, mainly caused by digital dermatitis in cows.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., has confirmed the introduction of some temporary adjustments to the GLAS scheme for this year in response to the current fodder shortages. The measures are being introduced with effect from tomorrow, Saturday 1^st September.

The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced that he has allocated €4.25 million to a new Fodder Import Support measure. The Minister made the announcement having secured the agreement of the Minister for Finance & Public, Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe T.D.

The recently announced extension of the fertiliser and slurry spreading period has been welcomed by farm leaders, however, further “suites of measures” will be required to address fodder fears, it has been stated.

The cutting of roadside hedges is set to remain prohibited next month, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced that the deadline for submission of data for Farm Improvement Plans in Knowledge Transfer Groups will be extended by two weeks until 14 August, 2018. The 31 July deadline for holding meetings of KT Groups remains in place.

 Environment & Rural Affairs

Trevor Boland from Sligo won a lime and nutrient management plan worth €2,500 in the 2017 Smart Farming Competition.

Grazing Tips for this Week:

Try to hold rotation length at 25 days to maintain a level of grass in the diet during this difficult period of drought.

Walk the farm and calculate a farm cover and cover per livestock unit. Generate a wedge and supplement based on the feed deficit on the farm.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, today announced that the payment of over €13.2 million to approximately 97,000 farmers has commenced.

Articles taken from the IFA website.

Rural Development

IFA Rural Development Chairman Joe Brady has called on the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to allow farmers who have the traditional hay meadow measure in GLAS to cut their meadows now rather than have to wait until July 1st.

AgriLand is delighted to team up with the Irish Farm Film Producer’s Group Ltd (IFFPG). This year, the IFFPG is significantly reducing collection charges to farmers for a number of waste streams.

7 events over 7 days in aid of Pieta House North West and Jigsaw Donegal.

Thomas Given and Joe Coyle are doing seven events over 7 days in aid of the above charities from the 11^th to the 17^th of June. these events include the following.

The Department Agriculture, Food and the Marine has advised farmers to check their applications for Basic Payment and ensure that they have not included any ineligible land. Examples of ineligible features include buildings, roads, yards, scrub, rock and land burnt since 1^st March. Farmers should also check that all parcel boundaries are aligned with the physical parcel boundary