Call for changes to dumping laws
The IFA has called for changes to legislation to be introduce so that farmers are no longer held legally responsible for reckless dumping by others.
Speaking on the issue, which is a particular problem for farmers in the Wicklow uplands, IFA Environment Chairman Thomas Cooney has called for tougher sanctions on serial dumpers who use the Irish countryside as a skip for their illegal activities.
Mr Cooney outlined that all sorts of materials are regularly being dumped on private land, and farmers are having to deal with it.
‘Ireland’s natural landscape has been preserved over the years by generations of farm families. It is widely recognised that our scenic beauty underpins our tourism offering, however illegal dumping of builders’ rubble, mattresses, furniture and electrical appliances continues to undermine the good work of farm families, and stronger action is now required from Government,’ he said.
While he welcomed Minister Naughten’s decision to increase the on the spot littering fines, he said it must be supported by increased enforcement by local authorities.
The IFA has called for changes to existing litter legislation to remove the threat of fines and prosecution for farmers on whose lands others dump litter recklessly.
The body has stressed the importance of a co-ordinat- ed approach between various stakeholders, to tackle the problem.
Mr Cooney called on the Department of Environment and local authorities to develop a co-ordinated approach to assist the public in managing their rubbish correctly. He called on county councils to establish a network of strategically located skips on civic amenity sites on the outskirts of towns and villages, where people can safely dispose of rubbish, rather than litter the countryside.
CATTLE SLAE JUNE 27: A good trade but easier by €5€10 per head. Plenty of buyers seen around the sales ring. Good beef heifers remaining at a steady trade with quality continentals making up to €2.60/ kg either suitable for feeding or breeding. The plainer heifers making in the region of €2/kg. Lighter cull cows making up to €1.50/kg and heavier continental cows making up to €2.30/ kg.
Heavier bullocks making up to €830 along with their weight. Overall good clearance with the hot weather leaving a small effect on trade.
SHEEP SALE JUNE 30: The special lamb sale at Baltinglass mart was held with great success. Improved trade for all types of stock. Lambs improved by €2-€5 per head.
Lambs over 45kg making from €120 up to €145 per head, with a lot of 16 lambs at 50kg made €145/head. Lambs from 40-45kg were making from €105-€120 per head.
The lighter store lambs of 35-40KG were making in the region of €80-€100/head.
Hoggets: 30kig–€72; 35kg– €83; 40kg–€107; 43kg -€116; 45kg–€131; 50kg–€145
SHEEP SALES REPORT - TUESDAY JUNE 26: A total of 1,264 sheep on offer. Tougher trade for the lambs with all types of lambs back by €2 to €5 per head on last week.
Butcher Lambs: €115 to €127 or €67 to €80 over €/kg Factory Lambs: €97 to €115 or €60 to €75 over €/kg; Store Lambs: €80 to €94 or €40 to €50 over €/kg; Heavy Ewes: €96 to €120 per head; Feeding Ewes: €70 to €95 per head.
Cattle Sales Report - Thurs- day June 28: A total of 186 cattle on offer. Tougher trade for smaller cattle. Trade remains steady for stronger cattle.
Store Bullocks over 500kgs €560 to €810 over €/kg; Store Bullocks over 400kgs €420 to €660 over €/kg; Store Bullocks over 300kgs €310 to €545 over €/kg; Store Heifers over 400kgs €410 to €620 over €/ kg; Store Heifers over 300Kgs €360 to €540 over €/kg; Beef Cows €360 to €620 over €/kg; Feeding Cows €120 to €330 over €/kg.
Calves: Fr Bulls €70 to €140 per head; HE/AA Bulls €100 to €280 per head; HE/AA Heifers €100 to €240 per head; Cont. Bulls €170 to €340 per head; Cont. Heifers €120 to €260 per head.
MART REPORT TUESDAY JUNE 26: A very lively trade for the forward type lambs amongst all this very warm weather.
Those lambs over 45kg today selling from €127 up to a tops today of €140 but the majority between €130 to €136 while we saw the lambs over 42kg selling in the region from €114 up to €130 with the majority between €120 and €125 for those well fleshed 43kg and 44kg while the lighter store type lambs from 37kg to 42kg selling from €83 and €84 up to a tops today of €105 for 40kg and 41kg but we did meet a little resistance with the store trade and we put it down to the very warm weather and shortage of grass.
Cast ewes selling from €25 to €30 with the kg while the heavy ewes up to a tops of €142 and with that we also saw the opening brood ewe sale today and the hgt ewes were selling from €170 up to a tops of 192 and aged 3 and 4 yr olds selling from €140 up to €165