From this statement you will know if you are farming above or below 170 Kilos of Organic Nitrogen.

Derogation: What is a derogation – under the Nitrates Directive it is a permit or permission to farm above 170 Kilos of Organic Nitrogen per hectare but below 250Kilos.

Irish farmers have been granted this derogation from Brussels until July 2010. After that a second derogation will be sought by the Irish negotiating team.

Upper Limit – Farmers are not allowed to farm at Organic Nitrogen levels above 250 Kilos per hectare. Any farmer in this situation is legally obliged to take measures to bring his stocking rate below 250 Kilos. These farmers' options are rent additional land; export slurry or reduce stock numbers.

Obligations on every farmer with livestock: What Records do you need to keep?
Record 1 – Annual fertiliser plan
Record 2 – Chemical fertiliser accounts or records
Record 3 – Organic fertilisers (manures) exported or imported.
Record 4 – Notification of temporary movement of cattle or sheep

REPS farmers and Nitrates – The fertiliser plan which is part of your REPS plan in either REPS 3 or 4 will suffice for Nitrates Records.
Non REPS Farmers – Farming below 170 Kilos of Organic (N)
Record 1 Annual fertiliser plan obligatory.
Record 2 Annual fertiliser records (Accounts) obligatory.

The farmer keeps these records 1 and 2 on farm and they must be available if he/she has a Department of Agriculture (DAF) in section.

Nitrates Derogation farmers i.e. farming between 170 – 250 Kgs of Organic (N) per hectare.

In 2007 – You were obliged to have:
1. Fertiliser Plan
2. Apply for derogation and the closing date for applying was 12th October 2007.

This derogation only applies to farmers with greater than 80 per cent grassland.

In 2008 you are obliged to send an account of the chemical fertilisers used in 2007 to the following address.Department of Agriculture and Food, Environment Section, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. The closing date is March 1st 2008 – There is a special Fertiliser Accounts form on the DAFF website for this purpose.

For 2008 – Nitrates Derogation farmers must have a "Fertiliser Plan" fertiliser plan in place by March 1, 2008. The farmer keeps this fertiliser plan and adheres to it during 2008. Records for 2008 must also be kept, that is an account of the fertilisers purchased etc.

"Apply for a Derogation" – The Single Farm Payment application form for 2008 will have a section specifically for this purpose. Any farmer seeking derogation must complete that section of the Single Farm Payment form.

"Derogation Plan" It
is also mandatory for such farmers to have a "derogation plan" this is far more comprehensive than a fertiliser plan.

Details of stock numbers, slurry storage facilities a detailed fertiliser plan on a field by field grass etc are all components of the derogation plan.

A farmer seeking a derogation must have his derogation plan in place as soon as possible in 2008. This plan is kept on farm for inspection by the Department of Agriculture.

Are there penalties for not complying? Yes deductions are made from a farmers Single Farm Payment if he/she is not compliant.

The penalty can be 15-30 per cent of a farmers Single Farm Payment or indeed higher.

Teagasc has computer programmes for doing both the fertiliser plan and the derogation plan. If you need assistance re same contact your local Teagasc office.

China's increasing wealth has meant that their diet has also changed. Whereas once the vast majority of China's population subsisted on rice, the diet is moving quickly towards a protein diet. The Chinese now want to eat the way we do — they want burgers and chicken nuggets, not just a bowl of rice.

But meat proteins come at a cost because to produce meat you need animal feedstuffs, and those feedstuffs are grain-based. So now there are new demands on grain production, not just for feeding a growing human population, but to feed animals destined for the table in the newly emerging economies like India and China.

Grain production is under other pressures as well. Climate change has caused a reduction in crop sizes in various parts of the globe lately and that shortfall has been aggravated by a move by many governments towards biofuels. It has been estimated that as much as 40pc of the US maize crop in 2007 went to the biofuel industry. That's a trend that's bound to continue as governments try to find ways of being less dependent on oil.

When grain becomes scarcer it get gets costlier. This year Italian consumers had a pasta strike, a kind of basta pasta, when their staple food rose in price relentlessly as the world-wide cost of grain soared. When grain costs more, then so will bread, pasta, poultry, beef and a huge variety of foods that need grain or flour in their production. With the world population rising, falling supplies of grain will cause massive social stresses.

As the effects of these global trends start to impinge on us here in Ireland, expect to see some changes. Whatever else we want to spend our money on, buying food isn't going to be an option — we'll still need to buy it. We'll have to cut back on something else. Luxury goods will be the first to feel the pinch, so too might foreign travel and restaurants.

If these global trends continue, then we may find that our food distribution systems will revert to where they were 60 years ago. As distribution and transport costs rise, we'll move back to locally produced foods. Kiwi fruit from New Zealand and asparagus from Peru will become harder to find because the cost of moving perishable goods over oceans will become prohibitive. Self-sufficiency will be the new mantra in both food and energy.

So what changes do I see in my crystal ball? I predict that land currently in set-aside will come back into production and that dairy farms will once again be profitable because their cattle aren't being fed on grain but graze on our abundant grass. Beef cattle will once more graze in fields, instead of being raised on slats indoors. Sheep production will remain unaffected for the same reason. I predict we'll see more geese in the poulterer's shops since geese don't eat grain, but grass.

Consequently the cost of grass-producing land will rise. Local markets, continental style, will become more common, where consumers and local food growers can come together without involving a huge distribution chain. We may have to adapt ourselves to a less global diet, just as we were getting used to one.

Irish potatoes could stage a major comeback as other sources of imported carbohydrates become pricier, and locally produced turnips, swedes and parsnips may supplant imported delicacies like yams and aubergines.

Wind energy and tidal energy will become increasingly our power source as oil becomes scarcer and costlier. Biofuels will play their part too, so expect to see fields of yellow-flowering rape around the country producing oil for fuel.

In truth, this doesn't look like bad news to me. Anything that puts us back in contact with the land around us and that gives us good locally-produced food can't be all bad.

This extravagant wastefulness of oil has brought us to something approaching a crunch point. Since the American invasion of Iraq, oil prices have soared, hovering around the $100 a barrel level instead of the previous $30 benchmark. Everything that relied on cheap oil has now begun to feel the pinch. The competition for resources has also had its effect on world prices. The main source of competition has been China, whose need for oil to power its burgeoning economy has been a major factor in pushing up the prices.

China's increasing wealth has meant that their diet has also changed. Whereas once the vast majority of China's population subsisted on rice, the diet is moving quickly towards a protein diet. The Chinese now want to eat the way we do — they want burgers and chicken nuggets, not just a bowl of rice.

But meat proteins come at a cost because to produce meat you need animal feedstuffs, and those feedstuffs are grain-based. So now there are new demands on grain production, not just for feeding a growing human population, but to feed animals destined for the table in the newly emerging economies like India and China.

Grain production is under other pressures as well. Climate change has caused a reduction in crop sizes in various parts of the globe lately and that shortfall has been aggravated by a move by many governments towards biofuels. It has been estimated that as much as 40pc of the US maize crop in 2007 went to the biofuel industry. That's a trend that's bound to continue as governments try to find ways of being less dependent on oil.

When grain becomes scarcer it get gets costlier. This year Italian consumers had a pasta strike, a kind of basta pasta, when their staple food rose in price relentlessly as the world-wide cost of grain soared. When grain costs more, then so will bread, pasta, poultry, beef and a huge variety of foods that need grain or flour in their production. With the world population rising, falling supplies of grain will cause massive social stresses.

As the effects of these global trends start to impinge on us here in Ireland, expect to see some changes. Whatever else we want to spend our money on, buying food isn't going to be an option — we'll still need to buy it. We'll have to cut back on something else. Luxury goods will be the first to feel the pinch, so too might foreign travel and restaurants.

If these global trends continue, then we may find that our food distribution systems will revert to where they were 60 years ago. As distribution and transport costs rise, we'll move back to locally produced foods. Kiwi fruit from New Zealand and asparagus from Peru will become harder to find because the cost of moving perishable goods over oceans will become prohibitive. Self-sufficiency will be the new mantra in both food and energy.

So what changes do I see in my crystal ball? I predict that land currently in set-aside will come back into production and that dairy farms will once again be profitable because their cattle aren't being fed on grain but graze on our abundant grass. Beef cattle will once more graze in fields, instead of being raised on slats indoors. Sheep production will remain unaffected for the same reason. I predict we'll see more geese in the poulterer's shops since geese don't eat grain, but grass.

Consequently the cost of grass-producing land will rise. Local markets, continental style, will become more common, where consumers and local food growers can come together without involving a huge distribution chain. We may have to adapt ourselves to a less global diet, just as we were getting used to one.

Irish potatoes could stage a major comeback as other sources of imported carbohydrates become pricier, and locally produced turnips, swedes and parsnips may supplant imported delicacies like yams and aubergines.

Wind energy and tidal energy will become increasingly our power source as oil becomes scarcer and costlier. Biofuels will play their part too, so expect to see fields of yellow-flowering rape around the country producing oil for fuel.

In truth, this doesn't look like bad news to me. Anything that puts us back in contact with the land around us and that gives us good locally-produced food can't be all bad.

This extravagant wastefulness of oil has brought us to something approaching a crunch point. Since the American invasion of Iraq, oil prices have soared, hovering around the $100 a barrel level instead of the previous $30 benchmark. Everything that relied on cheap oil has now begun to feel the pinch. The competition for resources has also had its effect on world prices. The main source of competition has been China, whose need for oil to power its burgeoning economy has been a major factor in pushing up the prices.

China's increasing wealth has meant that their diet has also changed. Whereas once the vast majority of China's population subsisted on rice, the diet is moving quickly towards a protein diet. The Chinese now want to eat the way we do — they want burgers and chicken nuggets, not just a bowl of rice.

But meat proteins come at a cost because to produce meat you need animal feedstuffs, and those feedstuffs are grain-based. So now there are new demands on grain production, not just for feeding a growing human population, but to feed animals destined for the table in the newly emerging economies like India and China.

Grain production is under other pressures as well. Climate change has caused a reduction in crop sizes in various parts of the globe lately and that shortfall has been aggravated by a move by many governments towards biofuels. It has been estimated that as much as 40pc of the US maize crop in 2007 went to the biofuel industry. That's a trend that's bound to continue as governments try to find ways of being less dependent on oil.

When grain becomes scarcer it get gets costlier. This year Italian consumers had a pasta strike, a kind of basta pasta, when their staple food rose in price relentlessly as the world-wide cost of grain soared. When grain costs more, then so will bread, pasta, poultry, beef and a huge variety of foods that need grain or flour in their production. With the world population rising, falling supplies of grain will cause massive social stresses.

As the effects of these global trends start to impinge on us here in Ireland, expect to see some changes. Whatever else we want to spend our money on, buying food isn't going to be an option — we'll still need to buy it. We'll have to cut back on something else. Luxury goods will be the first to feel the pinch, so too might foreign travel and restaurants.

If these global trends continue, then we may find that our food distribution systems will revert to where they were 60 years ago. As distribution and transport costs rise, we'll move back to locally produced foods. Kiwi fruit from New Zealand and asparagus from Peru will become harder to find because the cost of moving perishable goods over oceans will become prohibitive. Self-sufficiency will be the new mantra in both food and energy.

So what changes do I see in my crystal ball? I predict that land currently in set-aside will come back into production and that dairy farms will once again be profitable because their cattle aren't being fed on grain but graze on our abundant grass. Beef cattle will once more graze in fields, instead of being raised on slats indoors. Sheep production will remain unaffected for the same reason. I predict we'll see more geese in the poulterer's shops since geese don't eat grain, but grass.

Consequently the cost of grass-producing land will rise. Local markets, continental style, will become more common, where consumers and local food growers can come together without involving a huge distribution chain. We may have to adapt ourselves to a less global diet, just as we were getting used to one.

Irish potatoes could stage a major comeback as other sources of imported carbohydrates become pricier, and locally produced turnips, swedes and parsnips may supplant imported delicacies like yams and aubergines.

Wind energy and tidal energy will become increasingly our power source as oil becomes scarcer and costlier. Biofuels will play their part too, so expect to see fields of yellow-flowering rape around the country producing oil for fuel.

In truth, this doesn't look like bad news to me. Anything that puts us back in contact with the land around us and that gives us good locally-produced food can't be all bad.

A significant workshop to examine the implications of the Water Framework Directive for agriculture took place at Teagasc Environment Research Centre in Johnstown Castle last week.Having sufficient quantities of clean water in the future is a challenge for all countries, including Ireland. Recognising that this is at the centre of the national and global agenda, Teagasc organis

A significant workshop to examine the implications of the Water Framework Directive for agriculture took place at Teagasc Environment Research Centre in Johnstown Castle last week.

Having sufficient quantities of clean water in the future is a challenge for all countries, including Ireland. Recognising that this is at the centre of the national and global agenda, Teagasc organised this workshop to provide an update on the requirements of the Directive. The Water Framework Directive aims to maintain 'high status' of waters where it exists, prevent any deterioration in the existing status of waters, and achieve at least 'good status' in relation to all waters by 2015.

Speaking at one workshop in Johnstown Castle, Mark Gibson, Teagasc environmental specialist said: 'Today's debate will assist Teagasc to develop more integrated research, advisory and training programmes to assist the agriculture industry to be competitive while meeting environmental standards. This workshop is an important step in the development of detailed road maps for all Teagasc programmes to meet the challenges presented by the Water Framework Directive.'

Dr Karl Richards, Teagasc environment researcher said: 'Our research is focused on developing a sustainable agriculture which is competitive while also protecting and enhancing the environment. Current water quality related research includes examining slurry spreading methods, dirty water control, and cover crops. Results from this research are being used to provide advice to farmers to assist them in meeting their legal requirements. But there is a continued need to develop cost effective measures for farmers, coupled with risk specific advice for producers, particularly those in high risk areas.'

Irish farmers play their part in achieving higher water quality standards, particularly through their participation in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and through investment in new facilities. Teagasc has a team of Good Farm Practice advisors in place providing REPS services to farmers and assist an anticipated 10,000 additional farmers to join REPS4 between now and 2013.

Sean Regan, Teagasc environment programme manager said: 'Commercial and environmental requirements are interconnected and progressive farming decisions should embrace both in a balanced and harmonious way. This can be a win-win situation for farmers. Using fertiliser more efficiently can improve economic returns and reduce losses to the environment.'

Participants at the workshop heard from a cross section of people working in the sector including Dr Martin McGarrigle, EPA; Dr Colin Byrne, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; and Patricia Torpey, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

FOOD miles and carbon footprints are going over Irish consumers' heads, but environmental concerns are having an impact on what they buy, a new survey has shown.

Some 56pc of people are more conscious of environmental issues when choosing food, and half said they preferred to buy from companies that are aware of their impact on the environment, a Bord Bia survey of 1,000 consumers found.

However people were hazy on the details as over 62pc had never heard of "food miles" — the distance travelled by food before it reaches our shopping basket — and only 30pc knew that "carbon footprint" was the environmental impact of a product as measured by the amount of carbon dioxide it emitted.

However, Irish people were very committed to buying local food and nearly three-quarters check the country of origin and for a symbol of quality such as Bord Bia quality assurance.

Convenience is king among Irish shoppers with 75pc picking foods that are quick to cook, half of consumers using ready-to-eat foods and less than three in 10 people cooking from scratch every day.

Unclear

Healthy eating continues to be a major concern with many consumers claiming to eat less fat and sugar than they used to and more fresh food, but many were unclear about where bread, cereals and dairy products fitted into a healthy diet, as the Atkins Diet had led to a lot of confusion, said Bord Bia analyst Helen King.

Although Irish consumers often eat less virtuously in practice than they claim in surveys, organic food continues to soar in popularity with 46pc of people now buying it up from 30pc in 2003.

Consumers now spend €40 a month on organic food, up from €29 four years ago, with vegetables, fruit, poultry and dairy products the most popular buys.

Glenisk Organic Yoghurts won the Making a Difference Award in the Bord Bia Food and Drink Industry Awards. Glanbia won the Quest for Health and Wellness Award for Yoplait Essence while Flahavan's Microwaveable Quick Oats won the Life on the Go Award and Irish Country Meats won the Smart Shopper Award.

Kildalton College will launch its 2008 course prospectus at its Careers Open Day on Friday, 5th October 2007. The Careers Day will provide parents, students and career guidance teachers with a unique opportunity to get updated on all the courses on offer through Kildalton. There will also be an opportunity to view the college facilities.

Kildalton is the leading provider of agricultural courses in the South-East. The College is updating its courses and introducing new courses to meet changing demands in the land based sector. In addition to the newly revised Certificate in Farming (Level 5) and Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Level 6), the College also offers Advanced Certificate courses in Machinery and Dairying. There is now a strong air of confidence and optimism in the Irish dairy sector. Kildalton's new Advanced Certificate in Dairying will equip young dairy farmers with the most up-to-date technology and business skills essential for commercial dairy farming of the future, according to James Ryan, Dairy Lecturer at Kildalton.

Teagasc in Kilkenny, Waterford, South Tipperary and Wexford are introducing a new part-time Certificate in Farming course for adult farmers in the region, according to Frank Murphy, College Principal. This new evening course will be based at Kildalton and will facilitate adults who are fulltime farming or working off farm. Higher grain prices have boosted confidence in the tillage sector. Kildalton College is introducing a specialised advanced course for tillage farmers. This course will cover all the hot topics and technologies in the tillage sector according to Kildaltons James Maloney.

Kildaltons substantial park land and amenity area provide an ideal base for amenity horticulture. The College offers both vocational courses and third level courses to degree level. The horticultural degree courses are offered jointly with Waterford Institute of Technology. Horticultural students attending Kildalton can now progress to honours degree level through WIT according to Ciaran Walsh, Assistant Principal Horticulture. Kildalton also has a strong commercial horticulture focus through its substantial wholesale nursery, soft fruit, apples orchard, field vegetable and glasshouse crops.

Kildalton is now recognised as a leading equine training centre in Ireland. Equine students get both hands on training and broader academic training. The College has a substantial covered equine arena as well as outdoor arenas. Such is the interest in the Kildalton equine courses that demand exceeds available places, according to equine course leader Rosemary Gaffney.

Kildalton has developed a very strong partnership with WIT. Kildalton students can progress up to honours degree (Level in agriculture, agricultural science, horticulture and forestry at WIT.

All welcome to attend Kildalton on Friday, 5th October. The Careers Open Day will run from 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Information on Kildalton College courses can be obtained at 051-644400 or by e-mailing kildalton.college@teagasc.ie or visit Kildalton on the Teagasc website www.kildaltoncollege.ie.

Interestingly, 57pc of those questioned said that they would never consider selling their land.

However, 52pc of respondents said that they believed Ireland was facing an economic recession and 64pc said they felt that land prices have peaked.

The survey, which was carried out by Macra na Feirme on the finalist of the FBD Young Farmer of theYear competition and other young farmers across the country, looked at a number of aspects of the industry.

When questioned about growing their farm business, respondents were asked to choose which would be the greatest limiting factor — money, land or time?

Forty-six percent said that access to land would be the greatest limiting factor; 29pc pointed to lack of finance and 25pc cited time constraints.

Just 22pc of respondents said they had a cross-compliance inspection in the previous 12 months.

Of that number, less than half (48pc) reported the inspection to have lasted 'less than four hours in duration'.

One third of inspections lasted anything 'between four to eight hours in duration', while the remainder, almost a fifth of inspections (over 19pc), lasted 'over eight hours in duration'.

Macra president, Catherine Buckley, said that the figures showed that a large proportion of farmers were still enduring excessively long cross-compliance inspections.

Ms Buckley said that Macra proposed that the maximum inspection duration on an average farm should last no longer than four hours.

"Farm inspections are extremely stressful events for farmers, with inspection times varying dramatically. There certainly needs to be an agreed timeframe for completing inspections," she said.

Fifty-one percent of respondents said that they would be interested in growing energy crops such as willow and miscanthus, however the remaining 49pc said that they would have no interest.

Some 48pc of respondents said that they either 'currently' employed or 'would consider in the future' employing people to work on their farms.

Of that group, over half (55pc) cited workload as the reason for availing of outside assistance, while the rest (45pc) said they would do so with a view to 'improving their quality of life'.

Over 20pc of respondents said that they had employed a foreign worker on their farm.

Out of the 200 respondents, 136 were dairy farmers. This particular grouping was asked the following question:

"If there was free availability of milk quota at zero value, would you increase production — and by what percentage per annum?"

A whopping 78pc said that they would certainly increase production per annum should milk quota be freely available at zero value.

These figures are broken down as follows: 19pc said they would increase production per annum by 5-10pc and 59pc said they would increase production per annum by more than 10pc.

Furthermore, 12pc said they would increase production per annum by anything up to 5pc. Only 10pc said they would not be interested in increasing production.

As a result, many ‘supposedly' early varieties, which harvest well in NIAB/MGA, are not the most consistent quality performers under more challenging, cool wet conditions."

CHALLENGING
The best maize types were those that flowered early, produced consistent high yields and reliably produced high starch contents.
For many years varieties like Speedy have continued to be recommended on the N. Ireland Recommended List, long after they were removed from the NIAB list, because of a variety's ability to produce high starch silage under challenging conditions.
Though now being classified as outclassed in N. Ireland, it still has one of the highest starch and ME scores and is only now being replaced by varieties with similar stability and starch content, but higher yield.
In this respect the performance of Kaukas in the recently released Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Recommended List.
Now provisionally recommended in N. Ireland, Kaukas is one of the highest yielding varieties, but also has a clear 5% starch yield advantage over all other listed varieties.
Kaukas' adaptability was also confirmed by NIAB trials in 2006, where it performed well despite the cold establishment period and the hot dry summer.
This level of consistent performance, over a range of conditions, helps ensure growers have quality in the clamp whatever the season.
While Kaukas proved it's earliness in the more testing N Irish conditions varieties such as Sapphire and Destiny, while appearing to be early from the NIAB List, produced poor starch figures in the province.
It is only by looking at figures from a wide range of trials and different testing bodies that a true indication of performance can be accurately gleaned.

According to Glos farmer, David Cullimore, feeding Kaukas this winter had yielded an extra 1l/cow/day, compared with other maize varieties.
Farming in partnership with his wife and sons at Mobley Farm, Berkley, he grew Kaukas for the first time last year and while it looked good in the field the proof of the pudding was in the feeding.
With 60 of his 230 acres of maize silage down to the variety, he's recorded a noticeable drop in milk yield when he switched out of Kaukas to Wallis, Gazelle and Companero. Not only that, when he opened up a fresh face of Kaukas in the clamp, yields returned to their previous highs.
"It's early maturing and produced an exceptional yield with a fantastic grain to forage ratio and great cobs. On our heavy ground, it hung on better in the dry summer and matured at just the right time," he said.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, has announced an extension of the deadline for receipt of applications under the Bioenergy Scheme.
The Minister said applications for pre-planting would now be accepted until 30 March 2007.

She also advised farmers that applications would be processed immediately when received by her Department to enable successful applicants commence planting without delay.
The Minister reminded farmers that the scheme offers establishment grants for up to 50% of the costs associated with establishing miscanthus and willow for use as a renewable source of energy. Farmers can receive up to €1,450 per hectare towards establishment costs.
The Minister urged farmers who wish to apply for the establishment grants to ensure that their application forms are fully completed and submitted to the Department at the earliest possible date as there is an overall limit on the hectarage which may be grant aided this year.

Concluding the Minister stated: "I am confident that these new arrangements will provide every farmer with the opportunity to submit an application for pre-planting approval."

The Application Form for Pre-Planting Approval and supporting documentation are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie and from
Biofuels Policy Unit,
Department of Agriculture & Food,
Kea-Lew Business Park,
Mountrath Road,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
Telephone 057- 8692231 or E-mail bioenergy@agriculture.gov.ie

The Minister said that the Statement gives details to each farmer of all payments made to him/her by the Department during the period 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2006. The total value of the payments recorded on the Statements is in excess of €2 billion.

She added that the Payment Statement has proven in previous years to be a very useful document and asked that farmers retain the Statement carefully for future reference.

Farmers in REPS can obtain the energy crop premium and the establishment grants for area planted with either willow or miscanthus. The remainder of the land continues to be eligible for REPS payment. Minister Coughlan said that she was reviewing the overall position in the context of preparations for the introduction of REPS 4. The new REP Scheme is part of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13 which is currently with the European Commission for approval.

"REPS has its own priorities in terms of biodiversity, landscape and water quality," the Minister said, "and it is governed by certain EU Regulations. However it would be ridiculous for farmers participating in one environmental measure to be precluded from putting part of their land in another, even if it had different objectives. That is most certainly not the case".

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., today confirmed that the Management Committee of her Department's National Disease Control Centre met this morning to assess the significance of the outbreak of H5N1 avian 'flu on a poultry farm in Suffolk.
The Committee reviewed the Department's contingency arrangements and a number of the measures have now been stepped up. The Department is also reassessing the risk of the introduction of the disease into Ireland and, in this regard, officials are in contact with colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in London and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Belfast as well as the European Commission in Brussels.
Minister Coughlan said "I am confident that the extensive range of contingency measures in place, including legislative provisions, are appropriate to deal with the existing threat and I will not hesitate to introduce such further measures as would be appropriate to deal with any increased threat".
The Department has in place a wild bird surveillance programme which is targeting priority areas which are regarded as being at the greatest risk of the introduction of avian flu', taking account of a number specified criteria.

He said "The Government commitment to extend the stamp duty relief to situations where the exchange of land can involve more than two farmers is an essential reform to this measure which will significantly improve its impact."

Mr Walshe said "also, I stressed to Minister Cowen that long-term land leasing would never take off if land leased out is excluded from CGT retirement relief. Some progress was made in the budget, and I particularly welcome the Government's intention announced today to allow land leased for up to 15 years to be eligible for retirement relief."
"This measure will complement the improvement in the Income Tax Leased Land Exemption scheme in the Budget," he added.
Padraig Walshe said that at this time when we are reminded yet again of the threat to our farming and food industry from WTO, it is vital that the competitiveness of the sector is improved.
"The budget and finance bill measures, as well as the investment and restructuring measures in the National Development Plan provide a good framework for the future," he said.

Thousands of farmers could lose some or even all of their Single Farm Payment (SFP) entitlements in 2007.Over €8 million in entitlements could potentially be lost where a farmer has not used all of his/her entitlements during the first three years of the Single Farm Payment system (2005 – 2007).The unused entitlements are automatically lost to the National Reserve. The biggest group at risk are the 3,500 farmers who only activated their entitlements in 2005 but never sought payment on them and who did not apply to transfer those entitlements with lands to another farmer.To save these entitlements valued at €6 m the only option they now have is to submit land on their 2007 SFP application form to use their entitlements. This is likely to lead to increased demand in the already overheated land rental market. Many more thousands of farmers face losing low value entitlements that they have not yet claimed. In most cases this arises when a farmer has more entitlements than land.With a view to addressing this situation, the Department is setting up a system whereby farmers will have to nominate the unused entitlements to be paid first in 2007. This would prevent entitlements being lost to the National Reserve.There are also other options for farmers who wish to avoid losing their entitlements;Consolidation – where the farmer does not have enough land because of the loss of a lease or rented land, he/she can opt to consolidate the entitlements on the reduced land area. This is also possible where land was sold due to a CPO or put into forestry. Bear in mind that in order to be successful under this measure, you must continue to hold at least 50% of the area that you farmed in the 2000 – 2002 Reference period.Rent additional land – A farmer can rent additional eligible land and declare this land on the 2007 SFP application to drawn down the extra entitlements. This may also lead to an increased demand in the land rental markets in 2007, and have a knock-on effect on price.
Sell unused entitlements – Another option is for farmers to sell their unused entitlements.
This is only possible where the farmer got paid on at least 80% of his/her entitlements during the last two years. Farmers selling entitlements without land will however be subject to a 15% claw back (down from 30% in 2006) as well as capital gains tax of 20%.i
These factors have reduced the market for sale of entitlements in the last two years. However the risk of losing entitlements completely, will force some farmers to sell their unused entitlements.