Last year, the Department of Agriculture conducted 5,466 farm inspections across the range of full and partial cross-compliance inspections. A further 500 are planned for early 2018 that relate to the farm scheme year 2017.
Last year, the Department of Agriculture conducted 5,466 farm inspections across the range of full and partial cross-compliance inspections.
A further 500 are planned for early 2018 that relate to the farm scheme year 2017.
European regulations stipulate that a minimum number of inspections must be carried out by the Department of Agriculture every year.
At least 1% of all farmers receiving Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments must be selected for a full cross-compliance inspection. In 2016, this equated to around 1,360 farms.At least 3% of all cattle herds must be inspected for cattle identification and registration.At least 3% of all flocks must be selected for sheep/goat identification and registration. This 3% of flocks must also account for 5% of the national sheep flock.At least 5% of all farmers are selected for land eligibility inspections. The majority of these, around 90%, are completed by satellite using remote sensing technology. How are farmers selected for inspection?
Speaking at a joint Teagasc and Department of Agriculture meeting for farmers in Clonmel this week, inspector Conor O’Brien outlined how individual farmers are chosen for inspection.
Around 20% to 25% are selected from the full farmer population.
The remaining 75% to 80% are selected using risk criteria relating to the Statutory Management Regulation (SMR) being inspected.
For example, a farmer who was previously penalised for missing cattle tags on the farm will be a higher risk and therefore more likely to be inspected under the cattle identification and registration measure.
O’Brien told the 150 farmers gathered in Clonmel that the risk analysis results and risk categories are reviewed annually by the Department of Agriculture.
When are inspections carried out?
At this time of the year, January to March, the Department of Agriculture tends to concentrate on nitrates inspections, the Department official said.
Around 1,650 nitrates-only inspections are to be carried out for local authorities nationwide in the coming weeks.
By April, the focus of inspectors will switch to cattle and sheep identification and registration inspections.
The June, July and August period is typically focused on land eligibility inspections.
The aim is to get all relevant inspections completed in time for ANC (disadvantaged area) payments to issue in September and to allow an advance payment of the Basic Payment Scheme to issue from mid-October.
The late autumn and winter period of October to December will usually see farmers selected for full cross-compliance inspections.
Read more
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Farm inspections: the most common cross-compliance problems
Farm inspections: more than 2,500 farmers fined under cross-compliance
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