Against the background of Brexit uncertainly and the overarching requirement for a prudent budget in 2020, expenditure next year will amount to:

• €103m for the Forestry Programme, 
• €6m in capital investment for the commercial horticulture sector,
• €16.8m for Bord na gCon,
• €12m is being provided for the Organic Farming Scheme and a further €1.2m for development of the Organic Sector.

Forestry €103m

Minister Doyle welcomed the continuation of support for the development of forestry in Ireland with the allocation of €103m (including a capital carryover) for 2020.  

Minister Doyle stated, “this allocation reflects our commitment to planting 8,000 hectares in 2020, an ambitious target contained in the Climate Action Plan. This level of planting will be challenging and will require shared action from the private sector, public bodies and local communities but this Government is committed to achieving it. This budget also provides funding for the direct implementation of a number of other actions under the Climate Action Plan including the mobilisation of the private timber resource in Ireland, a substantial investment in forest roads, continued support for knowledge transfer groups and the promotion of timber products.’’

Mr. Andrew Doyle T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine today announced that 4,248 forest owners have received their annual forest premium payments in their bank accounts this week, amounting to a sum of €15.4 million in total. These payments are to those forest owners who applied for payment using the paper based application system. Over 6,000 forest owners, who had applied for their premiums online, have already received their payments since January 2019.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D., has issued a strong reminder to farmers and advisors that hedgerows, trees in a line and drains / ditches are designated as landscape features under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC). Under GAEC 7 beneficiaries are obliged to retain and maintain designated landscape features. 

The following is an email that I received from the Nitrates section. This only applies to farmers that are using water from a well, stream, river or lake. Those farmers that are on the mains water system are already being recorded. It only applies to farmers with large numbers of livestock as you can see from the table below.

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

Environment & Rural Affairs

Teagasc’s David Wall offers some Smart Farming advice on building soil fertility.

After a highly stressful and long winter, farmers are planning for the year’s grazing season and winter ahead. The question many are asking right now is, how can I maximise grass growth while increasing fodder reserves for the future?

1. SOIL TESTING  

Provides you with vital information about your soils

• • A foundation for your fertilizer plan

• • A small farm expense costing in the region of €1.25/ha/yr and is valid for 5 years

•  • A standard soil test will give the soils fertility status as follows; pH, lime requirement, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

Why:  Need to control rodent pests (brown rats and house mice)

• human and animal health; contamination; structural damage; QA compliance

How:  Integrated Pest Management (IPM) EXCLUDE, RESTRICT, SURVEY & MAP, DESTROY, REVIEW, CLEAN UP & MONITOR

Andrew Doyle T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, has announced the release of the first bulk payment of annual tax-free forestry premiums for 2018.  The payments are currently being issued to forest owners who applied through the Department’s online services website www.agfood.ie.

1. Improved Yields and Economic return

1. Management tool for your fertiliser plan

1. Efficient use of fertiliser

1. Indicate the level of P, K and lime in the soil

1. Environmental benefits

1. Micronutrient requirements of the crop

Reference:  This test method is based on the Geological Survey of Ireland Guidelines for disinfecting wells.  GSI Newsletter No.38, Dec2000.

The IFA is also working with the Department of Local Government, including the dog warden services on highlighting responsible dog ownership and has issued a stark warning to dog owners to keep their pets under control.

This past month has seen some of the worst flooding in recent times with farmland throughout the Finn valley being affected.

Soil analysis will tailor fertilizer application to match crop requirement ensuring optimum crop production, by reducing nutrient loss to the environment and growing farm profitability.