Inspections will continue as Department takes steps to protect CAP farm payments

Officials say they are taking all necessary precautions to protect staff and farmers during farm visits

“We would propose that for the time being, marts operate a system where the purchaser only is allowed access to the mart with sellers leaving stock off at shoots for sale,” added Ms McGuinness.

“Sellers can then be either allowed entry to sell their stock at appropriate times or contacted via phone. All mart canteens should also be closed.”

Dr Sam McConkey, Associate Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said marts should remain open, but farmers must make their own decisions on whether to attend or not. “We have to keep the basis of our economy going, especially for things like food. That does involve buying and selling heifers.

“This could go on for six or 12 months and we can’t just stop the whole world. People have to buy and sell their animals. There’s no evidence that bovines are a vector at this stage and the beef industry has to keep going.

“If I was running a mart I’d be keeping it open come hell or high water, with restrictions of 100 people and I would be telling people to stay 1-2m apart,” he said.

“A lot of rethinking is needed in the agri-food sector. Businesses need continuity plans around how to keep going and farmers need to ensure they have enough inputs.

“Dairy processors need to be recruiting now for drivers, for example, to make sure they have enough people if 10-15pc of their drivers are out sick. Farmers too, need a plan — who will milk their cows if they are sick?

“Most farmers do have a plan there, but this is a time for re-establishing those plans and having a good plan if you are sick.”

FARMERS and other selfemployed will be entitled to income support if they are diagnosed with Covid-19 or are suspected of having the virus.

IFA spokesperson Caroline Farrell said the enhanced Illness Benefit announced by the Government means farmers will be entitled to €305 per week for a maximum of two weeks if they are medically required to self-isolate.

Mrs Farrell said if your GP diagnoses you with Covid-19 or you are medically certified to self-isolate, you can apply for Illness Benefit. The current six-day waiting period for Illness Benefit will not apply.

Margaret Donnelly and Declan O’Brien

FARM INSPECTIONS will continue to be carried out by Department of Agriculture staff despite a range of restrictions being put in place to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department stated that any move to curtail on-farm inspections would delay delivery of CAP direct payments.

“The Basic Payment Scheme application date will not be changed. Any delay in inspections or change to the application date may lead to delays in payments later in the year, and we are anxious to avoid this at all costs,” the Department insisted.

The current updating of the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) will also proceed as planned, with the Department confirming that farmers would be updated as the work progressed.

In its statement the Department said it was taking “all of the precautions necessary to protect its staff and its clients” by adhering to protocols that follow HSE advice.

However, it confirmed that it was remaining open for business and “prioritising the delivery of essential services to farmers, fishermen and the food and forestry sectors”.

The Department confirmed that it will continue to carry out its regulatory and inspection functions, and that its laboratories remained available for diagnostic services and other functions.

“The Department is committed to ensuring animal related matters such as payment processing, TB testing, animal welfare inspections, animal identification and passport issuing, BVD testing, controls at livestock marts and animal export certification can continue to enable the business of farming to operate,” it stated.

The Department also committed to providing the necessary services for meat and milk processing plants, for marts, breeding establishments, feed manufacturers and suppliers, egg suppliers, suppliers of animal medicines and other agri-products.

Teagasc too will continue to operate over the coming days and weeks, but with changes to procedures, a spokesperson confirmed.

Teagasc offices will remain open but appointments will be on a one-on-one basis and by appointment only.

Social distancing and good biosecurity will be in place, the spokesperson said, with farmer clients to wait in the carpark until called to their appointment.

“Important services will be maintained and farmers who want farm visits can request them and Teagasc will try to facilitate.”

Discussion groups will no longer meet, but will communicate by phone, while the placement of students on farms is expected to continue.

‘Any delay on farm inspections may lead to delays in payments later in the year’