Smith delivers, Eventually!!!!!!!!!!!

snowman707

"Minister Smith confirms opening of €8 Million Sheep Fencing and Mobile Handling Scheme
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today confirmed that a new €8 million sheep fencing and mobile handling scheme will be open for applications from 1 November 2010.
The scheme is part of the Rural Development Programme and will help sheep farmers in reducing labour input. Minister Smith said that the scheme will "complement the €7 million Uplands Sheep Scheme, launched last year, and the €54 million Grassland Sheep Scheme, launched earlier this year, which will provide a much-needed boost to sheep farmers' income."
The Minister was also pleased to note that Teagasc had estimated that the margins of sheep farmers would increase by 28% this year as a result of a combination of lower costs and higher prices. Minister Smith recognised that the sector had come through a difficult period. However, he expected that the increase in margins together with the income boost that sheep farmers would receive in the period 2010 - 2012 from the €54m grassland sheep scheme would provide considerable confidence for the future of sheep farming in Ireland."

reilig

I'm sorry but its too little too late in my opinion. I know a lot of farmers that have already got out of sheep. In our local parish, there were about 20 sheep farmers up to 3 years ago. Now there are 8. Most, like ourselves have cut down hugely. From 150 ewes 3 years ago to 10 last year. Sheep fencing and handling facilities are no good to us now, nor to any of our neighbours.

It really annoys me to see him announce this scheme with fanfare and thrumpets when in fact he is actually closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

margins of sheep farmers would increase by 28% this year as a result of a combination of lower costs and higher prices.

What bullsh!t. Margins are increasing because of better lamb prices only. Costs are higher in every way this year - fertilizer, ration, dose etc. The simple facts are that factories are to the wall to fill their contracted orders because of a shortage of lambs. They're paying more because they have to.
I was in our local mart on monday night and cull ewes were making up to 80 euro. Lambs were making Eur2.20 per kilo live weight.

I don't begrudge any sheep farmer these grants. They deserve it for sticking it out through the hard years. But it annoys me to see a minister getting praise for this - 3 years after it should have been done.

I suppose one should think about getting back into sheep :eek:

johngalway

He is a waste of space. Coughlan before him was worse. Joe Welsh was a good AG minister, and I say that as a FG voter.

What's the old saying "Live horse and you'll eat". Right.

adne

is there a special herd number needed for sheep, might consider buying in a few to clean the ditches...

snowman707

reilig wrote: »

I'm sorry but its too little too late in my opinion. I know a lot of farmers that have already got out of sheep. In our local parish, there were about 20 sheep farmers up to 3 years ago. Now there are 8. Most, like ourselves have cut down hugely. From 150 ewes 3 years ago to 10 last year. Sheep fencing and handling facilities are no good to us now, nor to any of our neighbours.

It really annoys me to see him announce this scheme with fanfare and thrumpets when in fact he is actually closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.



What bullsh!t. Margins are increasing because of better lamb prices only. Costs are higher in every way this year - fertilizer, ration, dose etc. The simple facts are that factories are to the wall to fill their contracted orders because of a shortage of lambs. They're paying more because they have to.
I was in our local mart on monday night and cull ewes were making up to 80 euro. Lambs were making Eur2.20 per kilo live weight.

I don't begrudge any sheep farmer these grants. They deserve it for sticking it out through the hard years. But it annoys me to see a minister getting praise for this - 3 years after it should have been done.

I suppose one should think about getting back into sheep :eek:

firstly I am not for one second praising Smith and you say this money was available since 2007 and should have been issued then,

I have waited for this scheme as we intend to do a very large amount of sheep fencing and though our handling facilities are very basic they serve their purpose, only outlay in the last 30 years were for a weighting scales, roll over crate, and plastic dipping tank and hurdles, everything else was home made often from scrap metal and piping including a mobile handling unit from and old cattle trailer.

Why did we stick with sheep when they didnt seem to be profitable and like you area there was a huge exodus?

Just recently got ICBF Dairy herd performance report Jan to Jun 2010 we have a 5 star rating for fat, protein, milk solids per cow and milk value. other than being 50% dual purpose nothing fancy about our livestock, the performance of the herd is IMO greatly influenced by mixed grazing with the sheep,

in wet years we can maintain grass quality and minimise poaching,

in the event of getting locked we can freely sell stock and generate cash flow

reckon every ewe is worth at least 1 X 50 kg bag of 27.2.5.5 in nutrient value

and

most important I just enjoy working with sheep and with my border collies

johngalway wrote: »

He is a waste of space. Coughlan before him was worse. Joe Welsh was a good AG minister, and I say that as a FG voter.

What's the old saying "Live horse and you'll eat". Right.

Agree with you about Coughlan but I think Smith has a little more cop on , I think you have to go back to the late Mark Clinton for the last good minister, however being a FG voter like yourself some people would say I am biased

5live

No flock number needed as if you have a herd no. it will qualify you. Just keep an eye on tagging rules as they seem to change every year an not for the better. E tagging just a finantial and logistical NIGHTMARE and a boon to backward penpushers. Have to agree that Clinton best in last 30 years but the rest have to contend with Eurocrats and lack of ANY knowledge of ag systems by policy makers. Or i am just getting p....d off working 365 days so someone else can make a good living

Bitten & Hisses

johngalway wrote: »

Joe Welsh was a good AG minister, and I say that as a FG voter.

Not having a go at you, but what was so good about Joe Walsh? Apart from management of the Foot and Mouth crisis (and from what I hear, not all of the credit is actually due to him), I can't think of any stand-out achievements from his time in charge.

sea12

adne wrote: »

is there a special herd number needed for sheep, might consider buying in a few to clean the ditches...

This is what annoys me about farming in Ireland. As soon as any sector gets a good return in a year, everyone jumps on the bandwagon and over supplies the market within 2 years Then the price collapes and half of the people get out of it again.

It happened in Cereals after the high prices in 07. The amount of land put into cereals was huge the following year.

It will be the same thing with sheep now. After years of little or no margin we are finally making money in sheep because of increased lamp prices. However In the mart yesterday buying some replacements and the prices for any female stock was crazy. It was completely unecomical to be paying €185 euro for hoggests. All it does it drive up prices for everybody. I was talking to 3 people yesterday who were out of sheep for years but were getting back into them now because of the good prices.

It will be the same thing for the new grant scheme. Every farmer with any sheep will be applying for grants which will dillute the amount available. If the sheep industry is to survive it needs a smaller number of farmers with a strong commitment not allot of farmers who will get in and out. At least that way people are making money longterm and can plan and invest in their farms accorsingly.

I am not having a personal go at the poster who posted the comment above. It is a free market and He/She is quite entitled to buy some sheep. It was just one of many I heard recently. Nor am I having a go at people who keep a small flock , far from it.

Anyway my rant is over but I would be interested in peoples views.

johngalway

Bitten & Hisses wrote: »

Not having a go at you, but what was so good about Joe Walsh? Apart from management of the Foot and Mouth crisis (and from what I hear, not all of the credit is actually due to him), I can't think of any stand-out achievements from his time in charge.

I'm happy with a minister I don't have reason to notice Lack of achievements suit me down to the ground once cock ups are also off the agenda.

Smith has stood over the elimination of REPs. Would have been a lot better to reorganize it, but I guess that required too much of something like work!

snowman707

sea12 wrote: »

This is what annoys me about farming in Ireland. As soon as any sector gets a good return in a year, everyone jumps on the bandwagon and over supplies the market within 2 years Then the price collapes and half of the people get out of it again.

It happened in Cereals after the high prices in 07. The amount of land put into cereals was huge the following year.

It will be the same thing with sheep now. After years of little or no margin we are finally making money in sheep because of increased lamp prices. However In the mart yesterday buying some replacements and the prices for any female stock was crazy. It was completely unecomical to be paying €185 euro for hoggests. All it does it drive up prices for everybody. I was talking to 3 people yesterday who were out of sheep for years but were getting back into them now because of the good prices.

It will be the same thing for the new grant scheme. Every farmer with any sheep will be applying for grants which will dillute the amount available. If the sheep industry is to survive it needs a smaller number of farmers with a strong commitment not allot of farmers who will get in and out. At least that way people are making money longterm and can plan and invest in their farms accorsingly.

I am not having a personal go at the poster who posted the comment above. It is a free market and He/She is quite entitled to buy some sheep. It was just one of many I heard recently. Nor am I having a go at people who keep a small flock , far from it.

Anyway my rant is over but I would be interested in peoples views.

while I wholeheartedly agree with you in context, however I doubt if the amount of sheep meat or grain/cereal that Ireland contributes will have little effect on prices, NZ are opting away from sheep in favour of dairying likewise grain production is down worldwide for various reasons, you must also take other matters like currency exchange rate into account

5live

Looking at Journal yesterday and farmers paying up to 185 for hoggets. Are they insane? Anyone starting off would need a ball of money behind them to make anything out of those girls. 40% grant is good but what hoops do you have to jump through to get it. I have about 1km to do of boundary after REPS hedge cutting and planning to do it myself but the devil is in the detail

ballyremote10

I paid 167 for hoggets last week. I thought i was mad! It's all relative though as i got €95 for most of my culls this year.

The devil is in the detail with the fencing grant. I wouldn't get too excited about it. The price of posts, wire and contracting charges will only rise on the back of it.

snowman707

ballyremote10 wrote: »

I paid 167 for hoggets last week. I thought i was mad! It's all relative though as i got €95 for most of my culls this year.

The devil is in the detail with the fencing grant. I wouldn't get too excited about it. The price of posts, wire and contracting charges will only rise on the back of it.

we got 114 for the tops of the culls but wont be buying any replacements we have 38 texel X suffolk/vendeen ewe lambs kept, sold another 16 , 41 kgs @ €102 each. Gave €1200 though for 2 charollais rams:(

we will not be paying a contractor and with so little sheep in this area I doubt very much if the posts and wire be exactly flying out of the yards,

we are budgeting to spend 7to 8 K € on NECESSARY fencing and repairs, if with the grant and vat refund I can get back €4k of this I certainly will not complain.


we like to keep the fencing in good shape, no doubt there will still be those that will be using pallets and baler twine

looking through some of the ads. on donedeal I am amused to see galvanise sheeting and other sh1t used for fencing in the background , not to mention the nettles and briars.