Cross Compliance Inspections / Controls ACA Conference and AGM Birr 8th March 2017 Cross Compliance Inspections / Controls Commonage Meetings 2014

Explanatory Handbook issued to all farmers

Cross Compliance Changes in 2017? GAEC 4 – Minimum Soil Cover Still awaiting outcome of EU Commission audit in December 2016 but there may be changes to GAEC 4 and slopes may be introduced SMR 8 – Sheep/Goat IDR Following clarification from the Commission certain elements relating to Dispatch Documents and the Database/Annual Census will no longer be covered by Cross Compliance but the checks will be carried out SMR 10 – Pesticides Checks will be carried out in respect of sprayer certification but will not impact on Cross Compliance

Cross Compliance Inspections 1% of farmers are selected for Full Cross Compliance approximately 1360 cases No notice is given but once the unannounced elements are completed farmer can defer the remainder of the inspection for up to 48 hours provided there is no non-compliance with those SMRs or can proceed with the remainder of the inspection 3% of herds are inspected for Cattle and Sheep/Goat Identification and Registration. Must account for 5% of national flock for Sheep IDR inspections are generally announced with up to 48 hours notice given 4

Cross Compliance Inspections In 2015 Cross Compliance sanctions across ALL schemes amounted to €4.4m out of a total of €1.5Bn 2015 sanctions account for 0.3% of total payments. Average sanction was €1,097.46 Of the €4.4m almost €1.9m was for breaching the Nitrates 170kg N/Ha limit. 100% of farmers are checked administratively for this requirement. 1629 farmers breached the requirement in 2015 2015 sanctions were over €400,000 LOWER than 2014 5

Main Cross Compliance Issues The SMRs/GAEC that cause most problems include: Nitrates – e.g. Inadequate collection of organic fertiliser GAEC – e.g. Poaching, noxious weeds, encroachment, removal of Landscape Features Bovine Identification and Registration (IDR) – e.g. Tags missing, registration and notification issues Ovine Identification and Registration – e.g. Tags missing, flock register & dispatch dockets issues and Census errors Records are required for a number of SMRs including: Animal Remedies, Pesticide application records, Flock/Herd Registers, fertiliser and feed receipts 6

NITRATES BREACH DISTRIBUTION 2015

BOVINE IDR BREACH DISTRIBUTION 2015

SHEEP/GOAT IDR BREACH DISTRIBUTION 2015

Welfare of Animals Breach Distribution 2015

PESTICIDE BREACH DISTRIBUTION 2015

FOOD/FEED HYGIENE BREACHES 2015

GAEC BREACH DISTRIBUTION 2015

GAEC 5 - Severe Poaching

GAEC 5 – Sacrifice Paddock

GAEC 7 – Noxious weeds

GAEC 7 – Landscape Features In 2009 hedgerows, trees in a line and drains (drainage ditches) were designated as Landscape Features Former REPS designated habitats were also designated In 2015 archaeological sites and monuments were also designated All Landscape Features are protected and cannot be damaged or removed However!! Hedgerows, drains and trees in a line can be removed if replaced IN ADVANCE by the same feature of equal length somewhere else on the farm

GAEC 7 – Landscape Features Before removing any Landscape Feature be conscious of the EIA requirements, whether land is SPA/SAC and the bird nesting season Farmers cannot cut hedges during the bird nesting season which is currently 1 March – 31 August Avoid encroachment of invasive woody species on land e.g. Briars, scrub etc. Noxious weeds must be controlled to avoid sanction

Thank you!