By Catherine Cook
A LARGE number of farmers have been picked for random farm inspections by the Department of Agriculture over the past week.
While the Department was unable to confirm the exact number of farmers that will subject to the inspections it is believed that up to 90 farms may have been visited by teams of inspectors from Sligo.
A spokesperson for the Department confirmed that inspection were taking place within the county.
"In the context of delivering the Direct Payments Schemes (Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas/REPS) the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms. These cover such issues as eligibility under the Schemes and cross compliance involving compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition."
Under EU legislation, a minimum of five per cent of applicants are required to have inspections carried out. The Department confirmed: "These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed application form corresponds to the area held by the farmer and to ensure there are no overlapping claims, or duplicate claims. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out without a farm visit and using the technique of remote sensing.
The spokesperson explained that the rate of on-farm inspection required for cross-compliance is one per cent of those farmers to whom the Statutory Management Requirements apply.
"Under the relevant Regulations five per cent of producers must be inspected under the Bovine Animal Identification and Registration requirements together with three per cent of sheep producers covering five per cent of the National flock.
It is understood that within Donegal, all inspections relating to land eligibility have been carried out. The Department explained, however, that inspections relating to 'Cross Compliance' are still ongoing as these inspections are required to be spread out across the year.
