Farmers need more notice before farm inspections

IT is reasonable to expect some knowledge of the workings of farms from the Department of Agriculture.

They must know that more than two in every three farmers are now part-timers, and have to supplement farm income by working full time or part time outside of the farm.

Department of Agriculture officials are living in ‘cloud cuckoo land’ if they expect any part time farmer with a commitment to employment outside of the farm to cope with either on-the-spot farm inspections, or 24 hour notice inspections.