Filling sheep and goat census 2016

UNDER EU Regulations all flock keepers must count the numbers of sheep and/or goats present in their flock and return this number to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine via the annual sheep census form. This year the date selected for the annual sheep census was Saturday 31 December. It is very important for sheep farmers to submit the completed Sheep Census Form on time as other farm payments such as Areas of Natural Constraints (Area Aid), GLAS and Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) may get affected by late or non-submission of the Form. A further requirement is that they must also record the total numbers of sheep on that date on their Flock Register. The page to record this is towards the front of the Flock Register book.

The 2016 Sheep/Goat Census Form must now be submitted to: Sheep Census, Seefin Data Management, Department of Agriculture, PO Box 17, Cahirdown, Listowel, Co Kerry by the closing date of January 31, 2017. In the event of the census form being posted to and not received, please note the only acceptable proof of postage in respect of 2016 Sheep Goat Census form is Registered post receipt /Express post receipt.

While you will have received a pre-printed paper form and return envelope, you may also submit your 2015 Sheep/Goat Census online by means of the agfood.ie login system. Online submissions have the advantage of having being instantly validated and recorded. The closing date of January 31, 2016 also applies to Online Census. To access the Online Census first login to Agfood.ie. , go to Animal Identification and Movement and select Sheep and Goat Census. Fill in the relevant details and press save. You must press the SAVE button at the bottom of the screen in order for your census return to be successfully submitted.

There have been some changes made to procedures for agents to submit census returns for clients and if this method has been used in the past it is advisable to contact your agent in good time this year.

You must, by law, complete and return this census form even if you have no sheep/goats. If you have no sheep/goats at this time you must complete the total box with a zero (0) and return. If you do not intend to re-enter sheep/goat farming in the immediate future you should also tick the relevant box. If you tick this box your sheep/goat designator will be made dormant. However this can easily be re-activated at a later date should you decide to re-enter sheep/ goat farming.

Farmers should have sheep of a suitable breed to graze uplands or commonages if they are declaring this type of land on their BPS. This may also be important for GLAS applicants who have these types of lands. For this reason the numbers for mountain type or mountain cross sheep should be completed. For farmers that mark sheep there is a section to indicate the colour & position of markings. Finally there is a tick box to permit the Department to transfer your sheep census data to Sheep Ireland.