SUAS aims to address all uplands problems
THERE was a massive turnout in the Glendalough Hotel for the official launch of the ‘Sustainable Uplands Agriculture-environment Scheme (SUAS)’ Pilot Project by Wicklow Uplands Council.
Full details of the €1.95 million project designed to assist both commonage groups and individual farmers across the Wicklow and Dublin uplands, were shared to the large audience who attended.
Developed by Wicklow Uplands Council, the project is designed to assist both commonage groups and individual farmers across the Wicklow and Dublin uplands and will ensure the sustainable management of the unique, natural habitats the area is renowned for.
Presentations revealing more details on the innovative project were given by Declan Byrne, Project Manager of SUAS, Pat Dunne, Project Lead of SUAS, Brian Dunne, coordinator of Wicklow Uplands Council, Tom Byrne, Chair of Wicklow Uplands Council and Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council.
The project, the first of its type in Ireland, was successful in securing funding under the first round of European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture, Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) initiative. In two highly competitive Open Calls for proposals, 21 selected projects have been allocated funding over the last twelve months under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020.
The Uplands Council have been working on the SUAS project for a number of years. Changes in legislation and farming activities over the past two decades have led to a gradual decline in the quality and condition of upland habitats.
The year pilot project aims to address the agricultural, environmental and socio-economic issues associated with upland farming in the Wicklow/Dublin uplands. Key innovations include the establishment of commonage groups with their own constitutions, Integrating the environmental (ecological and water) and farm data into a single commonage management plan, assisting farmers to take responsibility for the development, implementation, and delivery of their own management plan and the use of an auction-based payment system to incentivise participants to develop solutions to specific issues they have identified on their farmed area.
Through a trained facilitator, each of the commonage groups have been developing an agreed constitution and to establish a formal structure including the election of a Chairperson. It is the commonage group itself that agrees to a management plan with the SUAS operational group and work will implemented cooperatively.
Declan Byrne, who has been with Teagasc for the last 17 years, has been appointed as the role of full time project manager of the SUAS pilot project. Declan, who has been an adviser to sheep hill farmers throughout Co. Wicklow, brings a wealth of experience to the role and will guide and support the participating farmers.
Ecologist Faith Wilson has been recruited for the duration of the project to conduit on-site ecological and water quality assessments.
SHEEP SALES REPORT – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20: 2167 Sheep on offer. Lambs better by €2 to €3 a head on last week.
Butcher lambs €104 to €108 or €57 to €64 over €/ kg; Factory lambs €97 to €104 or €50 to €59 over €/ kg; store lambs €70 to €97 or €40 to €55 over €/kg; Fat ewes €100 to €120 per head; Feeding ewes €67 to €99 per head.
CATTLE SALES REPORT – THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22: 264 cattle and 40 calves on offer. Trade remains similar to last week.
Beef and Forward store bullocks €500 to €860 over €/kg; store bullocks over 500kg, €500 to €770 over €/kg; store bullocks over 400kg, €420 to €640 over €/kg; store bullocks over 300kg, €330 to €545 over €/ kg; store heifers over 400kg, €380 to €620 over €/kg; store heifers over 300kg, €300 to €480 over €/kg; Beef and butcher heifers €460 to €740 over €/kg; Beef cows €300to €600 over €/kg; Feeding cows €/kg to €280 over €/kg.
Calves: Friesian bulls €70 to €120 per head; HE/AA bulls €100 to €240 per head; HE/AA heifers €70 to €160 per head.
WEANLING SALES REPORT – FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23: 180 weanlings on offer. Trade similar to last week for all classes.
Weanling bulls over 400kg, €350 to €500 over €/kg; Weanling bulls over 300kg, €300 to €500 over €/kg; Weanling bulls over 200kg, €270 to €465 over €/kg; Weanling heifers over 300kg, €270 to €440 over €/ kg; Weanling heifers over 200kg, €200 to €400 over €/kg.
CATTLE SALE–NOVEMBER 24: Good entry of 730 Head on offer with 150 dry Cows. More farmer customers present lending to an improved trade with all prices up slightly
Beef and Forward bullocks–€ 540–€ 930 over; Cont. store bullocks–€ 450–€ 860 over; Friesian bullocks–€ 60 – € 580 over; Cont. Beef heifers – € 530 – € 880 over; store heifers – € 230 – € 770 over; Beef cows – € 310 – € 725 over; store cows – € 130 under – €310 over.
SHEEP SALE–NOVEMBER 22: Big sale with 3150 sheep on offer. Very good demand with a top price of €115 for heavy lambs. Plenty of farmer customers for store lambs. Lambs: Over 50kg €106 -€115; 45kg – 49kg €98–€112; 40kg – 44kg €88–€99 store lambs over 35kg €80–€93; store lambs under 35kg €65–€83. cull ewes €45–€118; Breeding ewes €100–€128.
WEANLING SALE–NOVEMBER 21: 340 Weanlings on offer met a good trade with prices on per with last weeks. Good export demand for light quality bull and plainer Hd, Friesian and AA bulls.
Bulls over 400kg €770– €1,380; Bulls Under 400kg €510–€1,070; Heifers Over 400kg €730–€1,180; Heifers Under 400kg €450–€960; Prices–Bulls: 1 Charolais 656kg €1,380; 2 Charolais 546kg €1,260; 4 Charolais 515kg €1,180; 4 Charolais 465kg €1,080; 3 Charolais 387kg €850; 1 Belgian Blue 352kg €1,070; 4 AA 302kg €530; 5 Friesian 320kg €375.
Heifers: 1 Limousin 536kg €1,180; 1 Limousin 540kg €1,210; 3 Charolais 466kg €1,060; 4 Limousin 385kg €850; 4 Charolais 310kg €680 7 Charolais 340kg €700; 5 AA 305kg €510.