This time last year I attended a seminar on cross compliance and I wrote my monthly tip titled ‘The Dreaded Inspections’.  One year on, I have received an update regarding cross compliance inspections.  So…are we getting any better with complying with the rules?
It would appear, No!

The main contenders continue to be, failure to provide NVZ records, failure to undertake tuberculosis testing and failure to record livestock movements on and off etc.  This shows us it’s predominately mixed and livestock farmers who continue to fail at complying with the rules.
Therefore, my top tips for you are:
1. Keep on top of them!!! – Don’t let your records pile up and always action movements immediately, this includes deaths.
2. Register land within a 10-mile radius under the same County Parish Holding (CPH) number. This reduces record keeping and it does not trigger the standstill rules.
3. January 2018 sees the removal of the batch reporting exemption in sheep and goats, therefore don’t be caught out when moving sheep/goats.  All sheep movements between different holdings will need to be recorded at an individual level.
4. NVZ records – make sure you and employees/contractors know the NVZ rules, timings, distances and dates.
5. Most of us all have phones, so set alerts on your phone for important dates in the diary, whether this is TB testing dates, NVZ closed period dates, or livestock records such as date of movements, and date of deaths.  If you don’t have a phone, then perhaps keep a handy note pad in your pocket, tractor or farm office.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – most records require a computer, and if this is something you are not familiar with then the task of movement records etc. can be even more daunting.

As farm consultants we keep up to date with NVZ and Cross compliance rules and regulations and are regularly updating records for farmers.  If you would like information about NVZ regulation and/or help with record keeping, please contact Steph at stephemmerson@fcgagric.com or your local FCG office.