Single Payment Farm Inspections

National Ploughing Championships 2012

Cross Compliance

&

Land Eligibility

2

Why the need for Cross

compliance

In order to receive

the single payment

you must meet the

statutory

management and

GAEC

requirements on

each eligible

hectare

3

The Statutory Management

Requirements are concerned with

Conservation of wild birds (SPAs)

Protection of Groundwater

Managing the use of Sludges

Satisfying the Nitrates requirements

Conserving Habitats (SACs)

Animal identification

Use of Pesticides and Hormones

Food and Feed protection

Animals welfare and diseases

4

Good Agricultural and

Environmental Condition concerns Protecting soil from erosion

Maintaining soil organic

matter

Maintaining soil structure

Avoiding deterioration of

habitats

Retention of landscape

features

5

Inspection Levels

Land eligibility

5% of applicants are selected for land area and

eligibility checks

Cross compliance

1% of applicants are selected for full cross-

compliance checks.

3% cattle and

3% sheep

6

Possible Payment Reduction Levels

Negligent Breaches – Range between 1% and 5% depending on the

“extent, severity and permanence”

– if a repeated breach is found then the reduction can be greater

Intentional Breaches – Range from 15% to the total payment depending on the

seriousness of the non-compliance.

7

This presentation

highlights some the issues

giving rise to the higher

levels of breaches on

farms

8

So what are the current

Cross Compliance

breaches and breach

levels found on farm

inspections?

9

Rolling Average Breach Rate for each SMR

& GAEC

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%

SPA SMR 1

Groundwater SMR 2

Sludge SMR 3

Nitrates SMR 4

SAC SMR 5

Porcine SMR 6

Bovine (All) SMR 7

Ovine SMR 8

Pesticides SMR 9

Food Hygiene SMR 11

Feed SMR 12

Foot and Mouth SMR 13

Animal Diseases SMR14

Blue Tongue SMR15

Welfare of Calves SMR 16

Welfare of Pigs SMR 17

Welfare of Animals SMR 18

GAEC

10

Breach rates giving rise to a

Financial Reduction

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%

Groundwater SMR 2

Nitrates SMR 4

Porcine SMR 6

Bovine (All) SMR 7/8

Ovine SMR 8

Pesticides SMR 9

Food Hygiene SMR 11

Welfare of Animals SMR 18

GAEC

11

Distribution of Breach Rates % Reductions

0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% 6.0% 7.0% 8.0% 9.0%

Groundwater SMR2

Nitrates SMR4

Porcine SMR6

Bovine (All) SMR7

Ovine SMR8

Pesticides SMR9

Food Hygiene SMR11

Animal Welfare SMR18

GAEC

>5% reduction 5% reduction 3% reduction 1% reduction

12

Breakdown of Cattle Breaches

Database, 43%

Tagging, 22%

Passports, 21%

Herd Register, 14%

13

Preventing Cattle Identification

breaches? Ensure all animals have two approved

tags.

Order replacement tags once found

missing

Ensure you have a valid Passport for each

animal

Check that animal identification database

is correct

Ensure that the Herd register is properly

updated

Notify all farm to farm movements

14

Breakdown of Sheep Breaches

Flock Register 40%

Census 39%

Tagging. 21%

15

Preventing Sheep Identification

breaches? Ensure you are registered. You can do this at your District

Veterinary Office.

Tag all sheep on leaving the holding or before they reach 9

Months.

Ensure that you meet all of the movement requirements. All sheep

moved off your holding must be accompanied by a Dispatch

Docket. In respect of farm to farm movements, you must notify

the Department within 7 days of the movement taking place

Keep the flock register updated.

Retain records for a minimum of 3 years.

Complete and return your Census details and record in the flock

register.

16

Breakdown of Nitrate Breaches

Inadequate collection of

Livestock Manure 43%

Inadequate management of storage facilities

18%

Structural defects in storage

facilities 16%

Failure to minimise the

creation of soiled water 14%

Landspreading of FYM during the prohibited

period 5% Other 4%

17

Preventing Breaches of the Nitrates Regulations

Ensure FYM not stockpiled on land during the prohibited period

Check to ensure that sufficient storage is provided for.

Where reduced livestock manure storage capacity through outwintering is

being used you should ensure that all of the requirements are satisfied.

Ensure that records are maintained.

Ensure that P limits are not exceeded. In determining the chemical P to be

applied in 2013 you should take account of the available P from fed

concentrates in 2012

Ensure that the green cover requirements are met particularly where pre or

post harvest desiccant is used

Note:

Chemical Fertiliser

application period extended

to 30/9/2012

Organic Fertiliser application

period extended to

31/10/2012

Ensure that a Green

Cover is established

within 6 weeks of

burn off or ploughing

18

Breakdown of Pesticide Breaches

Unregistered Products 35%

Incomplete Records 23%

Warning Signs 17%

Unsuitable Storage Facilities

9%

Poor Storage Management 7%

Inappropriate products 4%

Deficient Documentation 3%

Other. 2%

19

Preventing Breaches of the Pesticide

Requirements Use only approved products & apply in accordance with label

instructions.

Application equipment must be suitable for purpose & properly

calibrated.

Ensure you have proper Storage Facilities and measuring equipment.

Store in a standalone building/container which can retain liquids and

is lockable with a visible warning sign. Products must be stored in

their original containers, with their labels attached. Powders must be

stored above liquids. Facilities for soaking up small spillages or

leakages must be available.

Retain records of:

1. purchase and disposal or return of products

2. use of products for the last 12 months including crop, area treated,

brand name, product registration number and quantity applied

20

Breakdown of GAEC Breaches

Rutting or Poaching of pasture caused by machinery or animal,

29%

Encroachment of invasive

species, 26%

Noxious weeds, 18%

Severe poaching, 8%

Soil Organic Matter , 7%

Stockproof boundaries , 5%

Damage/Removal Habitats , 3%

Inadequate management of land,

3%

Other, 1%

21

Preventing Breaches of the GAEC

Requirements

Avoid damage to soils through

poaching or machinery use

Avoid the encroachment of invasive

species on to agricultural land

Protect landscape features

Avoid damage to habitats

22

So how can you avoid Cross

Compliance breaches?

Refer to all Cross Compliance

documentation issued to you

Refer to the DAFM website

Consult a Farm Advisory Service

advisor, details of which are on

the DAFM website

(agriculture.gov.ie)

23

Land Eligibility Requirements

Each hectare on which payments are claimed must be eligible

It must be agricultural land on which an adequate level of agricultural activity is being conducted by you to keep it in GAEC

24

To Avoid Land Eligibility

penalties!!

Please take note of the

following

25

No Deductions required here

Rock At least a 30% Deduction needed for this rock

26

Varying reductions up to 100% required here

27

Scrub 100% Ineligible

No Deduction necessary here

No Deduction needed here as being adequately farmed

Landscape Feature to be protected

28

A small reduction for Rock is sufficient in this case

An adequate reduction for Rock is required in this case

29

Scrub covered land must be fully excluded

GAEC Breach may also arise where

sparse scrub developing

30

Abandoned so Ineligible

Where abandoned then all land must be fully excluded

31

Ineligible Heather `

100% Reduction required as there is no evidence of

sheep grazing

32

Eligible if Applicant is maintaining an adequate

number of sheep (minimum stocking rate required) on the land throughout the grazing

season to keep it fully in GAEC thereby avoiding areas of

abandonment

33

Bracken

Summer Winter

Areas under Bracken may be eligible if there is sufficient grass interspersed and it is being actively

grazed by sufficient sheep

34

Farming in poor weather

conditions

In poor weather conditions where delivery contracts or potential risk of crop loss at harvesting exist, it is permissible under GAEC to harvest in less than ideal conditions.

Every effort however should be made to minimise damage to the soil in such conditions

35

If you want further details please

contact

DAFM