PA043/A/07 Making Compliance Easier - The NI Farm Advisory System

Over the years, farmers and growers in Northern Ireland have had to adapt to many changes within their businesses.

In recent times perhaps the greatest change has seen the introduction of the Single Farm Payment /Cross Compliance system with farm inspections for Cross Compliance being carried out for the first time during the latter part of 2006.

Understandably many farmers and growers are keen to protect their Single Farm Payments by complying with the Cross Compliance regulations.  

In order to assist those within the agri-food industry become more knowledgeable about Cross Compliance and thereby make compliance easier, the EU requires each member state to put in place a Farm Advisory System.

It is intended that in Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) will co-ordinate the delivery of the Northern Ireland Farm Advisory System (NIFAS) through the many communication methods with which farmers and growers are currently familiar. For example, through the media, farming publications, as well as the DARD and Ruralni websites, up to date and relevant information and advice will be available to all those who run farm businesses.

However, a more innovative method of communication which has been developed by CAFRE in conjunction with colleagues from DARD’s Countryside Management Branch and Veterinary Service is that of farmer-led Cross Compliance workshops.

These workshops have been successfully piloted across Northern Ireland from September to November 2006. The first series of 93 workshops attracted over 1,300 farmers and feedback has been very positive with over 95% of participants being either satisfied or very satisfied with both content and delivery.

A key feature of these small group workshops is that most of the trainers are practising farmers who are able to bring the regulations into a practical farming context that helps reduce the concerns held by other farmers.

This week saw the start of a second series of 90 Cross Compliance workshops to be held at over 30 venues across Northern Ireland and it is hoped that over 3,000 farmers and growers will benefit from these events.

The Nitrates and Phosphate Regulations are also key components of Cross Compliance and are designed to improve water quality in Northern Ireland by means of control on the use of organic manures and inorganic fertilisers.

A guidance booklet giving details of the Nitrates and Phosphorus Regulations is currently being prepared and will be published during early March 2006 at which time DARD Advisers (from CAFRE and Countryside Management Branch) will be holding a series of information meetings across Northern Ireland to help farmers and growers comply with this important regulation.  

In order to make compliance easier within your business, do plan to attend not only these meetings but also others which will be advertised over the coming months.

All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619.