The Department of Agriculture,  Food and the Marine have indicated that Basic Payment Scheme  Applications will be sent to farmers in the forthcoming days.  Farmers will receive their Basic Payment Scheme Application and farm maps in this pack.  It is also expected that a statement of farmers entitlements under the BPS will also issue shortly. At Carroll Consultancy all our Advisors are registered and approved with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to assess and assist farmers with their applications. It is essential that farmers receive independent advice in relation to their farm entitlements for 2015.

Contact us today in Mayo to arrange an appointment with our Basic Payment Scheme Advisors.

The new Agri Environmental Scheme GLAS is expected to be launched this weekend in Mayo by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Mr. Simon Coveney.  This scheme will pay farmers a maximum payment of €5,000 per annum subject to the completion of suitable options on their farm.  At Carroll Consultancy our Advisors are approved GLAS Advisors and GLAS Planners and also GLAS Commonage Advisors. Our Advisors are registered on the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) register with the DAFM and are available to assist farmers with their GLAS Planning.

Please contact us immediately if you wish to discuss your GLAS Application.

We are organising Important Information Meetings on the Basic Payment Scheme, Young Farmers Scheme/National Reserve and GLAS in the region in the forthcoming weeks as outlined below:

• Tuesday, January 20th in the Gateway Hotel, Swinford.
• Thursday, January 22nd in Durkins Hotel, Ballaghaderreen.
• Tuesday, January 27th in the Mayfly Hotel, Foxford.
• Thursday, January 29th in Knock House Hotel, Knock

All meetings commence at 8pm sharp with registration from 7.30pm.

All are welcome.

A Public Meeting on Farm Succession and related matters will take place on Tuesday 9^th December 2014 at 8.00pm in the Park House Hotel, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. This is an extremely important matter for all farmers and topics to be discussed on the night will include the following: Advice to assist you in making a decision regarding the transfer of your farm, who should inherit it, making a will, leasing your land, related taxation issues, securing your farm payments, the Basic Payment Scheme and many other related matters.

We are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Denise Williams as an Agricultural Consultant to our firm. Denise graduated from University College Dublin in 2012 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree and in 2014 completed a research masters degree focusing on herbage chemical composition and urine nitrogen output from cows with Teagasc and UCD through Grange Research Centre in Co Meath. Denise has previous experience in the agricultural advisory sector and is a registered farm advisor. She will be assisting in the strategic development of the advisory service of the firm with particular emphasis on all the new measures under the proposed Rural Development Programme.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Simon Coveney T.D. announced in last week’s budget an allocation of €12.2 million towards this scheme to assist farmers to upgrade the standard of safety on their farms. The grant aid will be 40% up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of €20,000 i.e. a maximum grant of €8,000. The closing date for receipt of applications will be Friday 9th January 2015 and all work must be completed and a payment claim lodged with the Department before Monday 31st August 2015. The terms and conditions and associated application forms for this scheme should be available shortly. Please contact us if you are interested.

List of proposed eligible items under Farm Safety Scheme.

Safety Rails on Silo Walls
Safety Fencing for external slurry and effluent stores (including gate)
Solid Cover for External Slurry and Effluent Stores
Safety Covers on External Agitation Points or Manholes
Replacement of damaged slats (single/twin/gang) or replacement of existing internal agitation point with new gang slats
Replacement of hinged door/sheeted gate with a sliding door on agricultural buildings
Removal of end wall of tank and provision of external agitation point
Wiring/Rewiring of existing farm buildings
Yard Lights (min 200W equivalent, either metal halide or LED)
Retrofitting roof clear-sheet (roof light) with safety cages
Circulation pipe (6”) to allow for agitation of slurry
Installation of calving gates
Simple aeration systems
Mobile Cattle Crush Unit (min 2.4m long)
Mobile cattle penning max of 75 linear metres (in combination with a Cattle Handling unit)
Mobile cattle weighing scales
Leg hoist/ lifter
Head Scoop
Mobile specialised Sheep spraying equipment (with or without trailer)
Portable Sheep Handling Race with wheels (including footbath)
Portable Basic Sheep Handling Race
Mobile Sheep Weighing Facilities
Mobile Sheep Rollover Crates
Mobile Sheep “Batch” Footbaths
Mobile Sheep penning max of 75 linear metres (in combination with a Sheep Handling Race)
Mobile Sheep Adoption Unit Front
Mobile Sheep Adoption Unit Front with penning

We now have a vacancy for an Agricultural Consultant / Advisor.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assisting our existing and future clients with their farm scheme applications including AEOS and the proposed GLAS.
• Promote and provide advice on all other farm schemes/ farm advisory tasks including those proposed in the latest Rural Development Programme.
• Assist in all other agricultural consultancy activities of the business.
• Contribute to the implementation and management of the specific objectives and strategy of the business.

Interested candidates should apply with their Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter to:
The Managing Director, Carroll Consultancy, Main Street, Swinford, Co Mayo
or by email to info@carrollconsultancy.ie

Closing date for applications is Friday 5th September 2014 at 5pm.

Full details are in the recruitment part of the Country Living Section in this weeks Irish Farmers Journal.

Breian Carroll, Managing Director of Carroll Consultancy will speak at the forthcoming Agricultural Science Association Annual Conference on Friday 12th September at Killashee House Hotel, Naas. The session being discussed is “Farm Advisory Services at a crossroads”.

The discussion will be opened by Dr Jim Kinslla, Head of Agribusiness & Rural Development, School of Agriculture & Food Science, UCD.

Other panelists in this session will be Eddie Downey, President, Irish Farmers Association and Dr Tom Kelly, Director or Knowledge Transer Teagasc. The Session Moderator will be Matt O’Keefe, Editor, Irish Farmers Monthly.

Our Managing Director Breian Carroll was interviewed in May by Damien O’Reilly for the RTE Radio 1 programme Countrywide.

Breian outlined the procedure for the 2014 Single Payment Application and also discussed the new CAP Reform from 2015 to 2019 and the proposed changes to the current system.

Click here to listen to interview

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, today confirmed that agreement has been reached in Brussels today which provides for an advance payment under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme. ‘I am very pleased at the level of support evident at today’s meeting, the Minister said, adding ‘This will now allow us to make advance payments, at a rate of 50%, to those applicants whose applications are confirmed fully clear, with effect from 16 October, with balancing payments being made with effect from 1 December’.

The Minister explained that his approach to the Agriculture Commissioner had been prompted by the protracted unseasonable weather which prevailed throughout the country, which culminated in a serious national fodder shortage which led to severe difficulties for farmers.