Teagasc Assisting Farmers meet Environmental Commitments

Farmers' Single Farm Payment is now linked to numerous Cross-Compliance measures. At this year's National Ploughing Championships Teagasc advisers will outline the environmental measures necessary to safeguard your Single Farm Payment.

The major Cross Compliance issues involve farmyards and fertiliser use. Farmyards must be fully compliant by the end of 2008. Before this deadline, farmers must have the minimum storage capacities for livestock manures, soiled water and effluents. The Teagasc stand at this year's ploughing championships offers farmers an opportunity to get assistance to calculate the minimum storage required and the amount of organic nitrogen produced on the farm.

With many farmers planning to invest in their farmyards in the current year, detailed advice is available all week at the ploughing championships on the most suitable structures and on the financial implications of making these investments.

The increased interest in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) by farmers this year is reflected in the Teagasc exhibit. A wildlife exhibit, featuring Irish birds and mammals that can be found in hedgerow, field margin, grassland and linnet habitats is on display.

Within REPS, habitats must be managed to sustain or increase wildlife to justify continued payments to the 50,000 farmers currently in REPS.