Flock owners will this week receive the census which must be filled out and returned to the Department.
Sunday, 14 December 2014 is the date for the Sheep and Goat Census 2014.
Over 43,000 flock owners registered on the Department of Agriculture’s database will this week receive the census. Farmers are legally required to complete and return census forms to the Department on time. The census figures are used by the Department to determine sheep numbers in the country on a particular date and for farm and flock inspections.
For flock owners, it is also important when declaring that required stocking rates have been maintained and facilitates the drawing down of payments under schemes such as the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Area Scheme, REPS, AEOS and the Grassland Sheep Scheme.
All forms must be returned to Government Buildings, Portlaoise, Co Laois. Flock owners can also submit forms online.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 09/12/2014)