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AFBI are going to assist the health service in testing up to 1,000 samples a day from suspect COVID-19 cases, Minister Edwin Poots has confirmed.
DAERA's Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute will deliver this service via a newly established consortium with Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, to support the health service in Northern Ireland and help in the fight against COVID-19.
Minister Poots said: “I want to do all I can to help with the fight against COVID-19 and I am pleased to announce that AFBI laboratories and staff will undertake testing in support of our local HSC testing requirements. We must all work together, across government to support the Health Minister and the Health Trusts in any way we can.
“Subject to us being able to secure the key test kits and reagents, AFBI is able to offer its technical and scientific expertise which will hugely support the HSC efforts in the critical area of diagnostic testing. When fully operational in a number of weeks it is expected that AFBI may test up to 1,000 samples per day.
“If there is one message I want to reinforce, it is that we are all in this together. Through continued co-operation and collaboration and by supporting each other we will get through this.”
AFBI will conduct the tests at its labs in Stormont and testing is planned to commence shortly, for an initial 12 week period. AFBI is working in collaboration with Queen’s and Ulster Universities on this important testing initiative through the recently established consortium.
Health Minister Robin Swann said: “All those bodies who have stepped forward to assist with increasing our testing capacity will play a crucial part in enhancing our armoury as we fight against covid-19.
“I wish to take this opportunity to express my personal thanks to colleagues in AFBI, Queen’s and Ulster Universities and I also pass on the thanks of my frontline staff and the community as a whole for their efforts.”
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Newry Agricultural Show is the latest local casulty from the continuing COVID-19 pandemic with the Northern Ireland Shows Association (NISA) officially confirming that it has been cancelled for 2020 along with 11 other shows around the north. The show which has taken place locally since 1869 was to take place on Saturday 27 June.
As well as Newry shows cancelled include Killyleagh, Ballymoney, Lurgan, Armagh, Ballymena, Omagh, Castlewellan, Londonderry/Limavady¸ Antrim, Clogher Valley and Fermanagh.
The Balmoral Show has been postponed to Wednesday 19th – Saturday 22nd August 2020 while the Saintfield Show has indicated that they hope to run in September with a revised schedule.
Ann Orr, Chairman of NISA commented, “The health and safety of all those who come together to put on the individual local Shows are our priority. It is a difficult situation we all find ourselves in this year and each of the individual Show Committees have had to look seriously at their position taking into account the months of preparation beforehand, the expense of pre-planning which may not be used - and against that, the loss to the Agri-Food Industry of the valuable contribution the Shows - which cover the six counties of Northern Ireland - makes to the Northern Ireland economy. A major feature of the Agricultural Shows are the 5 NISA Championships run each year to culminate in the series Championships at the end of the season. Thankfully, our sponsors have all been supportive of the Committee's decisions, and we will be back in 2021 stronger than ever.
She continued, “I know I speak on behalf of all the Shows in thanking the organisers, volunteers, exhibitors, suppliers, sponsors, partners, and loyal visitors for their understanding and support during these unprecedented times. The loss of the local Shows over the summer months will be a great disappointment to not only the Show organisers but to all those involved.”
To keep up to date with the latest news, visit the Northern Ireland Shows Association on Facebook
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Following a decision to postpone this years Balmoral Show until August, The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) have now decided to cancel the event.
Dr Alan Crowe, RUAS Chief Executive said, “It is with deep regret that the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) has taken the decision to cancel the 2020 Balmoral Show, scheduled to take place from Wednesday 18th August to Saturday 22nd August 2020.
“Please be assured that we did not come to this decision lightly, however after several meetings and the exploration of all alternative options, it became clear that we would have been unable to run the 2020 Show on the rearranged August dates during these unprecedented times.
“We understand that this news will be disappointing to many, however as the global Covid-19 pandemic endures, we believe that as a Society, we have an obligation to protect the health and wellbeing of all our staff, members, competitors, visitors, volunteers, trade exhibitors, sponsors, contractors and suppliers.
“As Northern Ireland’s largest agri-food event with over 120,000 visitors each year, we are aware of the time, money and hard work put into attending the Show by livestock exhibitors, competitors, sponsors, trade stands and suppliers. With many local farmers, businesses and visitors facing financial uncertainty at present, we feel that everything is stacked against us in trying to run a Show in August.
“Moving forward, the RUAS will continue to take great pride in supporting and showcasing our local farming community and we plan to return next year with a Balmoral Show stronger than ever.”
The 152nd Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank will now take place from Wednesday 12th May to Saturday 15th May 2021 at Balmoral Park, Lisburn.
For the latest news and updates on the Balmoral Show, visit www.balmoralshow.co.uk or follow Balmoral Show on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is reminding farmers and contractors to take extra care during the silage season.
The silage season can be very demanding as there is always pressure to complete the job as quickly as possible. It is therefore extremely important to plan the work accordingly in order to minimise any risks that could potentially occur during this time and in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, farmers and contractors must also ensure they and their employees follow the Government guidelines in relation to social distancing and hand washing.
Working with silage can be a particularly dangerous time mainly because high-powered machinery is being operated at speed. Tractors are drawing large amounts of silage from the fields back to the farmyard which can result in small country roads being unexpectedly busy, this in turn will have an impact on the people using these roads from commuters who travel the road regularly to get to and from work to people who live in the locality and use the roads for exercise. During the COVID-19 pandemic farmers and contractors must be aware that during this time there may be even more pedestrians and cyclists using country roads for exercise purposes.
There are other factors which increase the chance of an incident occurring. These include, fatigue due to long working hours, poor weather and difficult ground conditions, inexperienced operators and using mobile phones when driving. However, it is up to the farmer or the contractor to manage these risks appropriately in order to prevent incidents occurring.
Children and young people
No child under the age of 13 should ever be carried in the cab of any machine involved in making silage. Contractors must not allow children to ride in tractor cabs or the cabs of self-propelled harvesters.
There are certain restrictions on what size, width and weights of tractors certain age groups can operate.
For example, a 16 year old can only operate tractors less than 2.45m wide and tow trailers less than 2.45m wide with 2 wheels or 4 wheels close coupled (close together).
For more information on this please visit the following link: WWW.GOV.UK
Young children should not be allowed to play around the farmyard or fields when silage is being made. There should be a safe and secure play area available for young children to play in and younger children must always be supervised by a competent adult at all times.
It is good practice for both adults and children to wear bright or reflective high visibility clothing during silage season as contractors may be working at times when visibility will be minimised. Studies have shown that a person wearing reflective or high visibility clothing will be seen 3 seconds quicker by a person driving a vehicle.
Machinery and vehicle safety
All tractors and any other equipment being used at silage time needs to be properly maintained and kept in good condition. Breakdowns, due to poor maintenance can lead to delays, adding extra cost and more pressure to an already busy schedule.
Only competent drivers should be allowed to operate machinery during the silage season and the carrying of passengers should be avoided. Employers must also make sure they have undertaken a specific risk assessment for any young persons under the age of 18 who are working for them, which takes into consideration their experience, maturity and their awareness of risks.
All guards must be in place on all equipment and in particular PTO shafts must be properly guarded.
If blockages need to be cleared by hand this must only be carried out when the PTO drive has been switched off and sufficient time has been allowed for the machine to stop completely. The contractor/supervisor or manager on site should be notified of any blockages by the driver and should offer assistance if required as many drivers are only competent in driving the machinery and not maintaining it.
It is essential to remove keys from tractors during maintenance operations.
Approved safety cabs or roll bars must be fitted on all tractors, these must be fitted in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines and also by a competent person.
Take care when driving on the public road and watch out for other road users especially when entering or leaving fields or yards. For more information on driving agricultural vehicles safely on public roads please visit the following link: WWW.HSENI.GOV.UK
Keep all lights and indicators in working order and ensure all mirrors and windows are cleaned to ensure good visibility for the driver.
Silo safety
Silos must never be overfilled as this greatly increases the chance of a tractor or loading shovel overturning when filling or rolling a silo.
Great care should be taken if anyone has to go under a silage cover to retrieve a tyre when the silo cover is being put in place. No person should go underneath a silage cover once the cover has been fixed in place. The fermenting grass uses up the oxygen in the air under the cover very quickly and at the same time the level of harmful gases increases rapidly. These gases include carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Anyone going under the cover when the covers have been fixed in place risks death due to asphyxiation. Always try to have another person with you when fixing the silo cover in place.
On open silos, with earth embankments, the sides and ends of the silage should be sloped off at a safe angle (less than 45 degrees). On other silos where machines and their drivers can drop 600mm (2 feet) or more, strong front end barriers and guard rails are required.
Silos with walls should never be filled above the top of the wall. If overfilled the guard rail will no longer be effective and will increase the risk of a machine overturning.
Excessive filling will overload walls and increase the risk to the operators of machinery.
Electricity
Be particularly careful when working near overhead power lines.
If you use a contractor for silage making, inform them of the location of any overhead power lines which you feel may impact on large machinery. This can be done by explaining where live overhead power lines are via a map or a site/field visit. Erect signage, markers or goalposts where necessary, if in doubt contact Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks on 03457 643 643 and follow their guidelines.
Remember, self-propelled forage harvesters need a lot of headroom, as do large trailers when tipped in the yard.
If possible use a banksman to direct vehicle movements in farmyards where there are overhead powerlines near silos or tipping areas or where there are areas of limited visibility.
REMEMBER electricity can arc meaning you need extra clearance for higher cable voltages. If in doubt about the height of overhead power lines and suitable clearance distances consult with NIE Networks.
To find out more about farm safety please call the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121 or visit the farm safety webpage via the following link: AGRICULTURE
Also see specific guidance published for employing agriculture contractors at WWW.HSENI.GOV.UK
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Dairy cooperative Dale Farm has increased its efforts to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has partnered with food redistribution charity FareShare Northern Ireland, providing it with milk and butter on a weekly basis which is then distributed through community food banks and charities across Northern Ireland.
FareShare Northern Ireland is directly tackling food poverty by collecting food from industry and redistributing it to charities that provide meals to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Caroline Martin, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager, Dale Farm said: “FareShare and the local charities they work with carry out vital work in reaching out to and supporting the most vulnerable people in our community all year round and, given the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, that work is more important than ever. We are proud to be partnering with FareShare and we take our responsibility to support the community seriously.
“Getting nutritious dairy to people, including those who are self-isolating or find it difficult to safely access a local store, is extremely important and we have been developing new ways to help do this during the pandemic. Through our My Milk Delivery service for example, we have been working with our network of independent local milkmen and women to bring our range of milk, cheese, butter and yogurts safely and directly to doorsteps.”
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A £25 million boost for the beef and dairy sectors was today welcomed by the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots.
The funding is to help mitigate falls in demand and prices for beef and dairy products during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Minister said: “This cash injection is the most generous allocation made by any UK or EU administration for the agriculture sector during the Coronavirus emergency and reflects the deep and complex challenges the industry faces. We know that with falling demand and prices for beef and dairy products, many farm businesses have been amongst the hardest hit, so the funding I have secured will certainly go some way towards helping the sectors. This will be a lifeline for many businesses and reflects the Executive’s commitment to supporting the sectors.”
With the horticulture sector also facing challenges, the Minister vowed to monitor closely the impact on producers over the coming weeks.
He also welcomed the £3.8m allocation from the Executive to help cover higher waste collection, treatment and disposal costs in Councils. The funding will also support the additional costs of implementing social distancing measures and ensure that staff across councils are able to fulfil these crucial waste management roles in a safe manner.
Single Farm Applications
24,494 Single Applications were received by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs by midnight on 15 May 2020 despite the Covid-19 lockdown.
Minister Poots thanked farmers, agents and his own staff for working together to ensure that applications were received on time, despite the added operating difficulties due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Minister Poots says the Department should be in position to issue full payments in October. “As a result of everyone’s efforts we should be in a position to distribute full payments in October - a first for Northern Ireland farmers and ahead of every part of the EU and UK. This is a demonstration of the efficiency that has been developed by DAERA in dealing with payments and the Department’s willingness to get the money on farms at the earliest available opportunity.”
Minister Poots also reminded farmers that they can amend applications up to 9 June without penalty. “This has been a tough year for farmers and they’ll be relying heavily on their Basic Payment. It is therefore important to ensure claims are accurate. So I would like to remind farmers and agents that amendments can be made up to 9 June 2020 without any financial penalty being incurred,” he added.
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Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan has welcomed an announcement last week by Finance Minister Conor Murphy of £25 million to support agriculture and horticulture but has said there must be a fair allocation of the fund and he has asked the DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to ensure it is allocated where it is needed most at this time.
Mr Boylan said “At a meeting with the DAERA Minster on Friday my party colleague Declan Mc Aleer, Chair of the The Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee stressed the importance of looking at all of the sectors and also highlighted that some sectors such as beef and sheep, which represent 80% of all farms in the north, have average annual incomes below £12,000 and would gain very little benefit from existing COVID schemes such as the Self Employed Income Support Scheme.
This income base will have plummeted even further since the COVID crisis, with various reports indicating a total supply chain loss for sheep of over £30/head and a beef loss of £240/head due to the lockdown.
A situation must be avoided whereby some sectors can access maximum support from at least two COVID schemes and other sectors cannot access any”.
The Newry & Armagh representative concluded “The agri-food and horticulture sectors have taken a severe hit during the COVID lockdown and this will be very difficult to recover from.
"I welcome the fact that the AERA committee will be listening to sectoral opinion to inform views on this scheme and while this £25m fund will not solve all of the issues, it is a positive move but it must be directed to where it is needed most and allocated in accordance with the department’s equality duties.”
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The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland have launched a campaign to promote child safety on farm with the aim of eliminating incidents on farms that in the past have tragically resulted in children being killed. PArt of the campaign is a poster competition for primary school pupils.
Through their “Be Aware Kids - Child Safety on Farms” campaign they have seen a significant reduction in such incidents but they emphasise they can't be complacement and must all work together to promote this important message.
A spokesperson for the HSE said "Unfortunately this year due to the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in with COVID-19, our staff will not have the opportunity to visit rural primary schools in the run up to the summer holidays to deliver our farm safety messages. However, we still wish to promote our farm safety poster competition which we have been running successfully now for a number of years as we feel this is an excellent way of getting our important safety messages out to farming families. This year we need your help and support more than ever to run our competition."
Poster Competition
They are inviting primary school pupils (Foundation, Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2) and pupils from special schools throughout Northern Ireland to enter their poster competition which will commence on 1st June 2020 and run for 12 weeks. To do so each child should draw or paint a picture and the design of this picture should be based on the key dangers on the farm from one of the four categories below.
The Categories
Dangers from slurry
Dangers from farm animals
Dangers from tractors & other farm machinery
Dangers from falls & falling objects
Each week they will invite entries from one of the above categories. The theme for each week will be announced every Monday on HSENI’s Facebook page and on their website. Competition terms and conditions can be found on the website at WWW.HSENI.GOV.UK Entries should be submitted portrait style on either A3 or A4 sized plain paper. To ensure entry to the competition is as simple as possible this year, they would ask that a photograph or scan of the completed picture is e-mailed to safestart@hseni.gov.uk
A cover note on the e-mail should state the child’s name, primary school attended and contact telephone number for a parent/guardian or responsible adult.
They will select a winner each week for the 12 weeks of the competition and winners will be notified the following week.
Prizes for each of the 12 winners will be a £30 One4all gift card.
HSENI Principal Inspector Camilla Mackey said: “In previous years HSENI has produced a calendar made up of the winning entries to the competition, and the calendar has been distributed to over 42,000 rural homes throughout Northern Ireland. HSENI hopes, if possible, to produce a calendar for 2021 from the winning entries to this year’s competition.
“We look forward to receiving some wonderful artwork highlighting the very important child safety on farms messages and truly appreciate your help with the promotion of the competition.”
For more information on “child safety on farms” go to be-aware-kids or you can e-mail safestart@hseni.gov.uk
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Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced the next stage of the Forests for our Future programme by launching the 2020/21 grant scheme that aims to encourage and help landowners plant their own woodland. The aim is to plant 850 hectares of all types of woodland, including new native, other broadleaf and predominantly coniferous woodland.
Successful applicants to the Forest Expansion Scheme will receive up to 100% of eligible establishment costs and annual premia for a 10-year period.
Minister Poots said: “Earlier this year, I launched the Forests For Our Future programme, where I pledged to plant 18 million trees by 2030 and create 9,000 hectares of new woodland to help our environment and economy.
“In order to help us achieve this ambitious target, my Department has consulted industry and other stakeholders and made a number of changes to the Forest Expansion Grant Scheme which I am now re-opening. The revised scheme will be opened earlier than previously and includes a reduction of the minimum application area to three hectares which will help more landowners to plant some of their land. To date, the Department has committed £6.4 million of grant aid to support 115 landowners to plant just over 850 hectares of all types of woodland, including new native, other broadleaf and predominantly coniferous woodland.
“Our woodlands are a hugely valuable natural resource and will benefit individuals and society alike by contributing to a healthy, quality environment, help to mitigate climate change by removing carbon from the atmosphere and improve the landscape and biodiversity. They also help our economy to thrive - the forestry sector at present generates about £60 million per annum from timber production activity, sustaining approximately 1,000 rural jobs. These woodlands can also provide spaces for people to improve their health and well-being through their enjoyment of this quality, natural resource.”
Plans for planting must conform to the UK Forestry Standard and the scheme will support applications on a best value basis.
Applications for the Forest Expansion Scheme must be submitted to Forest Service by noon on Friday 28 August 2020 for the 2020/21 planting season.
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