Cross Compliance Farm Walks

Teagasc has organised an important series of cross compliance farm walks for farmers throughout the country this month. These practical events will assist farmers understand the requirements and provide guidance on how to make necessary adjustments on their farms to be compliant with the rules.

The series of events, which begin at the Mountbellew Agricultural College, Co. Galway, on Wednesday, 3 December, will provide farmers with advice on how to maximise their fertiliser efficiency while complying with rules governing nutrient application. Other issues covered will include animal feed and food hygiene, the storage of pesticides and chemicals, animal identification, and animal welfare.

Teagasc environment specialist, Tim Hyde said; ”These events will be of interest to all farmers receiving the Single Farm Payment (SPS), Disadvantaged Areas’ Compensatory Allowance Scheme and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme as these payments are subject to cross compliance checks. It is important that as many farmers as possible come along to these events to improve their understanding of what is required, so that their payments are secure.”

Cross compliance involves two key elements:

• A requirement for farmers to comply with public health, animal and plant health, animal welfare, and the environmental standards.
  And
• A requirement to maintain the land in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC).

The farm walks are being organised in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Some 1,350 farmers (1 % of SPS applicants) will be inspected annually for cross compliance requirements including the various statutory management requirements by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. In addition, 5 per cent of farmers who have cattle are inspected under Cattle Identification and Registration requirements and 3 per cent of farmers who have sheep.

Cross compliance farm walks, two each day, are taking place at four of the agricultural colleges

• 3rd December: Mountbellew Agricultural College, Co. Galway - 10.30am & 1.30pm
• 9th December: Clonakilty Agricultural College, Co. Cork - 10.30am & 1.30pm
• 10th December: Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Co. Cavan - 10.30am & 1.30pm
• 11th December: Gurteen Agricultural College, Co. Tipperary - 10.30am & 1.30pm