Sheep and Goat Census to Underpin Department of Agricultures Rural Development Plan

Sheep And Goat Census To Underpin Department Of Agriculture’s Rural Development Plan

More than 44,000 sheep and goat keepers registered on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s database have received their annual sheep and goat 2016 census forms.

Saturday, December 31, was the set census date. Completing and returning the form is a legal obligation.

The closing date for their return is January 31st .

Flock owners received the form in the same week as Agriculture Minister Michael Creed launched the new Sheep Welfare Scheme at Kenmare Mart in Co Kerry.

It provides funding of up to €25m for sheep farmers in 2017 and is being introduced this month as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, as agreed with the European Commission.

Mr Creed said the scheme was a key commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government.

It also reflects the Government’s commitment to the sheep sector.

“The sector makes a vital contribution to the agri-food economy with an output value of €320m and exporting in excess of €230m in 2015.

“It supports 34,000 farm families directly in addition to providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas,” he said.

Mr Creed said the new scheme provides support of €10 per ewe to farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare.

“In designing the scheme, I was conscious it would have to take into account the different challenges faced by sheep farmers in low land and in hill areas and I believe we have successfully struck this balance.

“The end result is a reflection of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, particularly farm organisations, carried out by my department over the last few months, plus intensive discussions with the European Commission,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture will run information meetings at locations around the country this month to explain the details of the scheme to farmers.

IFA sheep chairman, John Lynskey, is urging all sheep farmers to apply for the new scheme.

He said with 2.5 million ewes nationally, there is adequate funding in the scheme to cover every sheep farmer with a breeding flock.

1 Mr Lynskey said analysis conducted by Professor Alan Renwick from UCD shows that each €1 of direct support for the sheep sector underpins €2.7 of economic output and €1.72 of household income in the Irish economy.

Meanwhile, the sheep and goat census returns will give key statistics to the department and other organisations involved in the development of the industry.

More importantly for farmers, submitting a completed census form is central in declaring that required stocking rates are being maintained.

It also facilitates drawing down of payments under various schemes including the new Sheep Welfare Scheme.

Failure to return the census form on time may impact on future related payments from the Department of Agriculture.

(Source – Irish Examiner – Ray Ryan – 02/01/2017)