Farmers can use existing claim herd number for Single Farm Payment claims for all land
Consultations continue between the Department of Agriculture and the farming organisations on the nearly 2,500 farmers whose entire holding is registered under one herd number, but where parts of the holding are located more than 20 miles from the home farm. According to Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith it has been his department’s policy such farms be assessed to determine if it is appropriate to allocate a separate herd number for the distant land fragment.
The main objective of this is to ensure that, in the event of a disease outbreak, the movement of animals can be easily traced, and holdings affected by the outbreak identified, so that trade restrictions can be limited to these holdings. A separate herd number is not automatically obligatory in all such instances, and generally will not be required, if:
