<p>Sheep And Goat Census To Underpin Department Of Agriculture’s Rural Development Plan</p><p>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.</p><p>Saturday, December 31, was the set census date. Completing and returning the form is a legal obligation. </p><p>The closing date for their return is January 31st . </p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>Mr Creed said the scheme was a key commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government. </p><p>It also reflects the Government’s commitment to the sheep sector.</p><p>“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.</p><p>“It supports 34,000 farm families directly in addition to providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas,” he said.</p><p>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.</p><p>“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.</p><p>“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.</p><p>The Department of Agriculture will run information meetings at locations around the country this month to explain the details of the scheme to farmers.</p><p>IFA sheep chairman, John Lynskey, is urging all sheep farmers to apply for the new scheme. </p><p>He said with 2.5 million ewes nationally, there is adequate funding in the scheme to cover every sheep farmer with a breeding flock.</p><p>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.</p><p>Meanwhile, the sheep and goat census returns will give key statistics to the department and other organisations involved in the development of the industry.</p><p>More importantly for farmers, submitting a completed census form is central in declaring that required stocking rates are being maintained.</p><p>It also facilitates drawing down of payments under various schemes including the new Sheep Welfare Scheme. </p><p>Failure to return the census form on time may impact on future related payments from the Department of Agriculture.</p><p>(Source – Irish Examiner – Ray Ryan – 02/01/2017)</p><p>2</p>