Advisory Services - 2002 Programme of Activities

Dairy

In the context of the present quota regime and in the context of a likely gradual decline in milk price, the two key objectives of the dairy advisory programme are to:

• Improve dairy herd profitability through reducing production costs. The target is to reduce common costs of production from 50p/gal in 2000 to 45p in 2006, increasing dairy farm income by £36m per annum for 15,000 Teagasc dairy clients by 2006.
• Improve dairy herd profitability through increasing milk protein content. The target is to increase milk protein percentage from 3.27 in 2000 to 3.37 in 2006. This would increase income by £15m per annum for 15,000 Teagasc dairy clients by 2006.

Discussion Groups, farm visits and monthly newsletters will continue to be the key methods of technology transfer. A consolidation in the number of monitor farms is envisaged for 2002.

The other substantial issues that will be featuring extensively in the dairy advisory programme during the year are quota management, the use of labour on dairy farms, food safety issues, biosecurity and support for clients participating in REPS, Dairy Hygiene, Farm Waste Management and other development schemes introduced in the National Development Plan.

Cattle

The objectives of the cattle programme are to improve the profitability and viability of cattle farmer clients through the:

• Adoption of best farm management practices for grassland.
• Increase use of continental breeds in the suckler herd.

The priority programme will include

• Improving grassland management in order to optimise liveweight gain on grass.
• Improving breeding in the suckler herd to maximise the number of carcasses suitable for EU Markets.
• Optimising direct payments and the participation of the maximum number of cattle clients in REPS.
• Increase awareness of the importance of quality assurance as an essential entry requirement for premium markets, the observance of the code of Good Farming Practice and maintaining biosecurity on farms.
• Improved links within the cattle industry between producers, finishers and processors.

The strategy to achieve these objectives will be to provide independent leadership, advice and information using joint Teagasc/industry development programmes, monitor farms, discussion groups, farm visits, demonstrations in marts, farm demonstrations, seminars, meetings, publicity in the farming press and radio and individual advisory visits and consultations.

Sheep

The Teagasc Sheep Advisory Programme is designed to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the Fennessy Review of the Teagasc Sheep Programme and the report of the Sheepmeat Forum.

The objectives of the programme are to improve the profitability of sheep farmer clients by helping them to:

• Achieve higher lamb prices by selling lambs earlier
• Achieve better carcpse grades by better drafting and earlier sales of lambs
• Achieve more efficient labour use
• Meet tagging regulations
• Implementing strategies for Biosecurity

The programme will be delivered through a combination of National Sheep Open Days, demonstrations, county seminars, focus on hill sheep event, the consolidation of discussion groups and their expansion. Newsletters, farm visits to clients and office consultations will ensure that individual farmers benefit from the programme.

Tillage

Tillage crops occupy 9% of the total area farmed in Ireland and account for 10% of Gross Agricultural Product. The area under crops and the number of farmers growing crops has been in long-term decline but nonetheless grain output has remained static at 2 million tonnes.

The two key objectives of the 2002 Tillage Crops Programme are to:

• Achieve a Margin From Grain of £400/ha
• Optimise Direct Payments

The programme of activities will include seminars, crop walks, farm visits, consultations, crop reports and newsletters. The programme will revolve around the crop discussion groups, 18 monitor farms (one in each tillage county) and an analysis of performance using the "Tillage Profit Monitor" computer program.

These are currently 30 crop discussion groups in operation and the membership of these will be consolidated and increased.

Training activities for adult farmers will include the Advanced Certificate in Tillage Crop Management courses and training courses for Sprayer Operators. Basis training courses will continue to be made available to people advising on the use of Plant Protection Products.

Horticulture

The objectives of the horticultural advisory programme are

• To increase domestic output
• To increase exports

The Horticultural Advisory Service has four advisory teams:

• Mushroom Development Team
• Nursery Stock Development Team
• Fruit Development Team
• Vegetable/Potato Development Team

These teams meet 4-6 times per year to exchange information, organise working arrangements, issue newsletters and deliver the development programme.

The following objectives have been developed for each of the four areas:

• To maximise the yield of mushrooms per tonne of compost
• To assist Nursery Stock Producers increase the production of marketable plants
• To enable Vegetable Growers adopt integrated crop management systems
• To increase the production of potatoes

Continued training will be provided for growers and their workers in the safe use of pesticides.

The Horticultural Advisory Programme will be delivered by visits to contracted clients, specific development and advisory programmes with sections of the industry, national seminars, regional seminars, crop walks, office consultations and on-farm demonstrations. Some 15 discussion groups have been established in horticulture and this base will be expanded and developed further.

Pigs

The overall aim of the pig advisory programme is to maximise pig herd profitability through improved technical performance while protecting the environment, safeguarding pig welfare and ensuring the safety of pigmeat.

The main programme objectives are to maximise the profitability of pig farmer clients through:

• Controlling costs
• Increasing average output per sow
• Improved food conversion efficiency

Priorities include

• Environmental protection and the safe recycling of pig
• Indepth nutrient management planning and the matching of the nutrients available in pig manure to grassland and crop needs.
• Performance and financial analysis using the Pigsys computer program.

Technical seminars and conferences for both farmers and industry partners together with participation in working committees dealing with biosecurity, disease problems and environmental issues will be a major part of the programme.

Opportunities for Farm Families

The objective of the Teagasc Opportunities for Farm Families programme is to help farm families to take a realistic look at their situations, explore the on-farm and off-farm options open to them and identify the best opportunities to boost income and improve the quality of life.

First stage

• examines the current position
• explores the options for the family's future.
• A Way Forward Guideprepared

Second stage

• Detailed analysis of the financial, physical and social implications of the options identified
• A Way Forward Action Plan developed with one to one advisory support and specially developed training.

Farm Diversification

While good progress has been made in the establishment of enterprises in recent years, the priority for 2002 will be to ensure that these are developed further and made more viable. The Alternative Enterprises Scheme, introduced in the National Development Plan in 2001 will be a significant incentive for the producers to bring about improvements in many existing enterprises.

• Forestry
• Sport Horses
• Deer Production
• Poultry
• Organic
• Rural Tourism
• Farm House & Cottage Food

Good Farming Practice

Good Farming Practice involves common-sense farming which cares for the environment and meets minimum hygiene and animal welfare standards. Good Farming Practice also involves complying with the provisions of the law on the environment, animal welfare, animal identification and animal health.

Farmers applying for all of the major income support and investment schemes introduced in the National Development Plan must comply with Good Farming Practice. (GFP) in 2002.

The advisory programme will ensure that farmers are fully informed of the requirements of the GFP and have the knowledge and training necessary for its implementation. Farming media - both national and local press and radio, together with farm walks, open days, demonstrations, newsletters and one to one advice will be used to get the messages across.

REPS Services

REPS 2 has been fully operational from the beginning of 2001 but was seriously disrupted by the Foot and Mouth outbreak. As a result, a very substantial backlog of planning - both replanning from REPS 1 to REPS 2 and new plans for first time participants will be carried over into 2002.

Teagasc will have some 22,000 REPS clients at the end of 2001. These will be a combination of clients with REPS 2 plans prepared in 2001, clients who have or are about to complete their REPS 1 plans and require replanning into REPS 2 and clients continuing with REPS 1. The advisory programme will provide the support services for both REPS 1 and REPS 2 clients and the planning services for REPS 2.

Nutrient Management Planning

As part of the programme to improve water quality and to further reduce the contribution of farming to the deterioration of water quality, nutrient management plans (NMP) will be required from intensive farmers by an increasing number of local authorities. Teagasc will provide a NMP service for its farmer clients, who are required to produce these plans by the relevant authorities.

Natural Heritage

There are 1200 proposed Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). These make up about 10% of the country. Proposed NHAs do not currently have legal protection. This will change when an amendment to the 1976 Wildlife Act (currently before the Oireachtas) is passed.

The most important NHAs were designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Habitats Directive and the EU Birds Directive respectively. These have legal protection from damaging farming practices. The designations have drawn attention to certain outlawed practices such as overgrazing in uplands and turf cutting on certain raised bogs.

There is a close relationship between sustainable farming and the preservation of natural heritage in the designated areas. The main priority of the programme is to underpin the continuation of sustainable farming by promoting complimentary income generating activities including participation in environmental schemes. Other associated priorities include:

• Promotion of REPS or Duchas Scheme (as appropriate)
• Prepare conservation plans (`mini' framework plans) for non-commonage target areas under REPS.
• Participation in Departmental working parties on the development of management prescriptions for the Priority Habitats.

Safety and Health

The overall objective of the Health and Safety programme is to promote awareness amongst the farming community of the health and safety dimensions of running a farm. Under the Welfare at Work Act (1989), an increasing number of farmers are required to prepare and implement a Safety Statement. Advisers, Teachers and Education Officers are being provided with training in the preparation of farm safety statements and a wide range of technical notes/advisory leaflets are being produced and distributed. With the appointment of additional Health and Safety specialist staff in 2001 this activity was greatly increased.

All advisory staff are receiving regular updating on Health and Safety issues and it is featuring more strongly in Teagasc events. The Discussion Groups are being used to encourage farmers to complete safety statements and safety is featured at all outdoor events.

Effective liaison is maintained with the Health and Safety Authority, Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and farm organisations on health and safety issues. Mass media and public events will also be use to promote the prevention of accidents and ill health among the farming community.

Food Assurance

Quality assurance concerns - food quality specifications, food safety issues, traceability, animal welfare, health and bio security - are increasingly impacting on how the agrifood sector operates. The competitiveness of the Irish agrifood industry ultimately depends on its capacity to meet the increasingly complex needs and requirements of consumers and the marketplace.

The three key factors that are driving and will continue to drive the demand for food assurance are:

• Changing Consumer Concerns
• Changes in Retailing
• Increased Regulatory Controls

The two key objectives for the food assurance programme are as follows:

1. Assisting producers and agrifood industry to meet consumer needs/market requirements.

This objective will be promoted by:

• Keeping Teagasc clients and Teagasc staff fully informed of changing consumer/market requirements and the implications for the agrifood sector.
• Promoting, supporting and participating in producer/processor partnership programmes and Teagasc/Industry joint programmes that are based on food assurance.
• Ensuring that all trainee farmers contemplating Teagasc FETAC or HETAC courses complete a mandatory Food Assurance Module.
• Working with key agencies and the food industry (e.g. Bord Bia, FSAI) in the development of credible quality assurance schemes.
• Providing quality assurance and marketing based training programmes/courses/modules for adult farmers, Teagasc Advanced Certificate courses and industry (e.g. farm inspector training courses for QA schemes).

2. Awareness of Key Regulatory Requirements/Control

The second objective of the Food Assurance Programme is to ensure that producers and Teagasc staff are kept fully informed of key national/EU regulations and controls. This objective will be pursued in close liasion with the Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Development, other regulatory organisations and farming organisations.

Legislation pertaining to farm food assurance issues (food safety, animal traceability, animal health, biosecurity and welfare) is increasingly complex and extensive in scope. Regulatory controls are also likely to be linked to EU support schemes to a greater degree in the future. Failure to comply with critical legislation (e.g. animal feed restrictions) could have major market implications. Awareness of key measures is vital from a producer, industry and public food point of view.