Farming Desk

Exemption on burning of agri green waste

Regulations were signed last Friday to provide for an extension to the exemption which allows for the onsite burning of agricultural green waste in certain circumstances. The regulations, drafted by the Department of the Environment, extend the exemption for burning, which expired on January 1st, until March 1st. This will be the final time the exemption will be extended.

Call for suspension of ‘banding’ letters

Reacting to the opening of applications for the 2023 Nitrates Derogation, ICMSA President Pat McCormack has said it is now “completely obvious that the ‘Banding’ measures agreed by Ireland will do enormous damage to the farm family model”.

Mr McCormack repeated his call for the Minister to suspend or postpone ‘Banding’ for 2023 in order for a full assessment of all the implications and to allow farmers a reasonable length of time to plan their futures.

He said ‘Banding’ was agreed last spring between the EU Commission and the Government, but the Department has still not explained to farmers what it involves.

‘Delays put forestry targets in jeopardy’

IFA Farm Forestry Chair Jason Fleming has warned that the delay in State Aid for the new Forestry Programme means this year’s targets are unlikely to be met.

Mr Fleming said the programme was “off to a bad start” and the target of aiming to plant 8,000 new hectares as set out in the Climate Action Plan was “near impossible”.

Income crisis on sheep farms

IFA President Tim Cullinan says farmers have left factories and Minister Charlie McConalogue in no doubt as to the seriousness of the income situation in Ireland’s second largest farming sector.

Speaking after an IFA sheep farmers’ meeting in Athlone recently, Mr Cullinan said farmers’ concerns were vindicated following Teagasc’s recent assessment of incomes, which showed net margins dropping by 81 per cent last year.

The IFA President also called on the Government to allocate the €1 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund before the end of this year.

The IFA Chair called on the Department of Agriculture to focus on reducing turnaround times. He also highlighted Interim Afforestation and Forest Road Schemes (via General De Minimis), which he said offered new grants to farmers who have not yet started to plant or construct a road.

All Organics applicants to be accepted – ICSA

ISCA Organics Chair Fergal Byrne has welcomed news that all applicants to the Organics Scheme (2,134 farmers) will be accepted.

Speaking following last Friday’s Organics Strategy Forum in Backweston, Mr Byrne said there would be another opportunity to join the scheme in October of this year.

Another busy week with a large entry at last Friday’s general sale and a very strong trade for all classes. Bullocks averaged up to €3.49 per kilo while heifers fetched up to €3.42 and dry cows made up to €3.15. There was a good entry of top weanlings on Tuesday evening with a strong trade seeing bull weanlings making up to €4.19 a kilo and heifer weanlings fetching up to €4.04.

The mart also hosted a special entry of in-calf heifers, heifers with calves at foot, and in-calf cows. Sample prices: Lim heifer with bull calf €3,280; Lim heifer with heifer calf €3,050; In-calf heifers up to €3,050 and in-calf cows up to €2,500.

A smaller number of sheep at Wednesday’s sale, where prices for finished hoggets peaked at €146. The top stag ewes made €155 while prices for a special entry of in-lamb ewes ranged from €160 to €170. Sheep sales continue on Wednesdays and can be viewed on www. livestock-live.com.

Sample prices for dry cows: Lim X 905kgs €2820, Char X 850kgs €2480, SIX 800kgs €2460, Lim X 775kgs €2390, Char X 740kgs €2330, Lim X 775kgs €2270, Lim X 680kgs €2120, SIX 755kgs €2200, Char X 670kgs €2080, Lim X 605kgs €1830, Lim X 565kgs €1700.

Heifers: Char X 685kgs €2340, Lim X 675kgs €2310, Lim X 685kgs €2040, Char X 770kgs €2450, Char X 775kgs €2200, AAX 505kgs €1380, Lim X 530kgs €1500.

Bullocks: Char X 975kgs €3000, Char X 940kgs €2960, Lim X 960kgs €2980, Lim X 945kgs €2850, Char X 680kgs €2360, Char X 625kgs €1990, LIM X 660kgs €2090, Char X 685kgs €2040, BBX 825kgs €2560, Char X 525kgs €1830, Lim X 465kgs €1520, Lim X 485kgs €1460, Lim X 495kgs €1540, Char X 545kgs €1650, Lim X 415kgs €1290.

Weanling heifers: Lim X 260kgs

€1050 - €4.04 per kilo, Lim X 272 kgs €950 - €3.49 per kilo, Char X

335kgs €1160 - €3.46 per kilo, Char X 350kgs €1190 - €3.40 per kilo, Lim X 320kgs €1060 - €3.31 per kilo, Char X 325kgs €1150 - €3.54 per kilo.

Weanling bulls: Char X 267kgs €1120 - €4.19 per kilo, Lim X 350kgs €1260 - €3.60 per kilo, Lim X 225kgs €830 - €3.69 per kilo, Char X 340kgs €1270€3.74 per kilo, BAX 295kgs €1030 - €3.49 per kilo, Char X 265kgs €970 - €3.66 per kilo, Char X 315kgs €1200 - €3.81 per kilo, Char X 320kgs €1150€3.59 per kilo.

Finished hoggets: 56kgs €146, 52.5kgs €146, 51.4kgs €146, 52kgs €144, 50.2kgs €142, 50.1kgs €140, 48.6kgs €137.

Sale of Weanlings

Bookings accepted until Tuesday, 9th February at 5 p.m.

Saturday, 11th February at 12 noon

Opening Organic Sale of 2023

followed by Dispersal Sale of 4 and 5 Star Organic Breeding Cattle on behalf of Mary Conry–Candler at 1pm 5 - First Calvers with Calves at Foot, 14 - Cows with Calves at Foot, 1 - In Calf Heifer, 11 - In Calf Cows, 6 - Maiden Heifers

Lambs & Cast Ewes

Each Wednesday at 11 a.m. Stock must be penned by 9.30 a.m. – Gates close at 10 a.m.

Wednesday February 8th -

Special Entry 15

Suffolk Cross Ewes

with strong lambs at foot -

Note: Sheep Scanning Service commencing next Wednesday, 8th of February from 9 am to 10 am