Campaign aims to reduce forest fires
A NATIONAL fire training day takes place at Avondale today ( Wednesday, March 21) as part of a national campaign led by Coillte in association with The Forest Service.
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the danger posed by forest fires ahead of the summer season. The event will feature discussions and demonstrations such as a helicopter display of fire control, which may act as a great visual for a report. Minister Andrew Doyle and representatives of the Forest Service along with Coillte’s Mick Power will be among those attending.
At the start of spring, there is often a lot of dead vegetation accumulated from last year which can dry out quickly during bright sunny days, high temperatures and low humidity levels, which can greatly increase the risk of fire.
‘With the National Fire Training Days campaign, as well as working with land managers, we are appealing to the public to be vigilant and most importantly to report forest fires in a bid to protect the countryside, its wildlife and residents,’ said Mr Power.
2017 was an exceptional year for forest fires in Ireland, with 85 separate fire events on Coillte property alone. These affected more than 1,700 hectares of forestry and 2,000 hectares of bog.
The cost of fighting these fires as well as the loss of standing timber was significant and Coillte are engaged in an ongoing process to evaluate the expenditure required to ensure forest and habitat regeneration.
‘ This process is very challenging as significant work is required to remove burnt material and prepare the lands for reforestation. Most areas will be fully replanted while others may be converted to biodiversity and nature conservation areas with the agreement of the Forest Service,’ added Mr Power.
The event at Avondale starts at 11 a.m.
CATTLE–WEDNESDAY MARCH 14: A very lively trade for all types of stock. Continental bullocks selling from a trade of €2.50-€2.75 per KG. A 29 month old Charolais bullock weighing 525 KG sold for €1360.
A brisk trade seen with all heifers. Selling from €2.24- €2.65 per KG. A 24 month old Limousin heifer weighing 320 KG sold for €850. This trade was driven by butcher and farmer demand.
Bullock Prices: Limousin–600KG €1,480; Limousin–620KG €1,480; Angus–675KG €1,450; Hereford–637KG €1,350; Simmental–635KG €1,340.
Heifer Prices: Limousin–500KG €1,120; Limousin–475KG€1050; Angus–385KG €800; Hereford–395KG €800.
SHEEP–FRIDAY MARCH 16: Improved trade for all sorts. Hoggots making from €2.40-€2.70 per KG, prices driven by factory demand.
Full mouth ewes with lambs at foot making up to €170.
Smaller sale today with a complete clearance.
Sample Prices: 34 KG–€79; 46 KG–€107; 57 KG–€139; 42 KG–€110
SHEEP SALES REPORT - TUESDAY MARCH 13: 1,246 sheep on offer, all classes met with a flying trade, butcher and factory hogget trade up €5 to €10 per head.
Butcher Hoggets €132 to €140 or €75 to €85 over €/kg; Factory Hoggets €117 to €132 or €70 to €81 over €/kg; Store Hoggets €85 to €117 or €50 to €68 over €/kg; Heavy Ewes €115 to €135 per head; Feeding Ewes €75 to €110 per head
SHEEP REPORT - TUESDAY MARCH 13: Very large sale today with over 1100 hoggets on offer and trade once again improved again this week for the heavier hoggets with those hoggets over 50kg selling in the region from €136 up to €144 with some exceptionally well fleshed hoggets up to a tops of €149 today. We saw the fleshed hoggets over 46kg and 47kg equally lively trade selling from €120 up to €134 today with the majority between €126 and €130 while the store hoggets selling from a base of €85 today with the ewe and weather types 38kg to 44kg in the region from €96 and €97 up to €112.
Casts ewes very lively trade for the fleshed ewes up to a tops of €148 today they being 110kg while the majority of those fleshed ewes selling from €128 up to €137. The feeder type ewes younger ewes from €20 to €25 with the kg even up to €30 in some cases while the older type feeding ewes from €10 to €20 with the kg.
We had a clearance sale of in lamb ewes today and they sold in the region from €150 up to €175 and we also had ewes with lambs at foot singles selling from €150 per unit up to a tops today of €230 for ewes with twin lambs at foot young 3 yr old and 4 yr old ewes.
Full clearance in Tullow with trade for hoggets continuing to creep away while we also saw a good demand for in lamb ewes and ewes with lambs at foot.