Contractors call for extension to hedge-cutting dates on farms

The current closed period deadlines are no longer practical, according to FCI chair Richard White.

Marcella Connolly

18 February 2020

Contractors call for extension to hedge-cutting dates on farms

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland (FCI) has called for the closed period for hedge-cutting on farms to be extended.The hedge-cutting season ends on 1 March 2020.

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland (FCI) has called for the closed period for hedge-cutting on farms to be extended.

The hedge-cutting season ends on 1 March 2020.

It is looking for a two-week extension to the rule from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, until 17 March 2020.

The past number of weeks has experienced three times the rainfall over normal seasonal levels and there are just 10 days left for hedgerow management, according to the FCI.

“It is accepted that soils on many farms are saturated to the point of being waterlogged. This has brought field work to a standstill, especially in areas such as time-sensitive hedge management,” said FCI chair Richard White.

Request

The FCI has had no response from the Department regarding a request in January for a decision on an extension to the hedgecutting dates for 2020.

“Farm contractors across Ireland have again reported this week that ground conditions in Irish fields have further deteriorated and field conditions for work on mechanised hedge management have been at their worst over a number of years,” said White.

Field conditions are unlikely to improve in the next week

“Field conditions are unlikely to improve in the next week, due to anticipated additional rainfall. As we come to the end of the mechanised hedge management period, the need for an extension has never been more urgent.

“The current closed period deadlines are no longer practical to take account of current weather conditions and in order to allow for the safe operating of hedge management machinery when working against unrealistic deadlines,” said White.

Year-round cutting

The FCI has also requested that the current legislation be changed to allow for the maintenance of all Irish roadside hedges and removal of all roadside trees for public safety reasons throughout the year and including outside of the current closed hedge management period.

It has also called on the role of local authorities to be strengthened so that they can carry out their mandate where they have a responsibility to all road users and their safety on all public roads.

Farmers are moving away from forestry

Competition watchdog notified of ESB Coillte joint venture

RELATED STORIES

Peter Thomas Keaveney

Maintaining and driving the Krone Big X

Munster Technological University Agricultural engineering lecturer, Fergal O’Sullivan speaks to Ciaran Roche, a specialist on Krone Big X harvesters, about getting the machines ready for silage season

Gary Abbott

In pictures: tractors and tankers top online auction

Three John Deere tractors and a variety of slurry tankers and muck spreaders went under the hammer last week, as part of a UK contractor sellout; a 2020 John Deere 6215R topped the sale at £71,000.

Teagasc forestry events focus on supports and markets

Declan O’Brien

Teagasc forestry events focus on supports and markets

Teagasc forestry specialist Tom Houlihan said the mood among the 100 or so farmers who attended the Mountbellew event was “relatively positive”, despite the current difficulties.

Department issues orange high-risk fire warning

Darren Carty

Department issues orange high-risk fire warning

The warning applies to all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses, heather and gorse exist and remains in place until at least Monday 7 April.