HORTICULTURE
Prepared by: Kieran Lavelle
e-mail : kieran.lavelle@dardni.gov.uk
telephone: 028 3752 9060
Horticulture and the Renewable Heat Incentive
In November 2012, DETI launched the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). RHI is a support mechanism for commercial businesses to help convert their heating to fuels from renewable sources such as wood pellet, wood chip, or solar energy. The RHI provides non-domestic generators of eligible renewable heat with incentive payments for up to 20 years. The tariff payments vary depending on the size and type of technology and are calculated on the metered heat used by the installation.
Example
A six house mushroom unit using 181,900 kWh of heat (oil) per year costing £12,000
Cost of conversion to biomass heating £20,000
Annual cost of biomass (pellets) (44 t) £7,980
Saving in fuel £4,020
Value of RHI at 6.1p/kWh £11,096
Additional annual capital cost for biomass boiler £2,080
Total net gain £13,036
From the above figures, the payback period for this conversion is less than three years.
Where heat is used as an integral part of your horticultural business, the RHI provides an opportunity to reduce costs significantly and to reduce your carbon footprint.
For more information contact Cathal Ellis, Renewable Energy Technologist, CAFRE on 028 9442 6793 or by email cathal.ellis@dardni.gov.uk. You are also welcome to visit the ‘Practical On-farm Renewable Energy’ event at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus on 26 February 2014. This event will provide valuable information and guidance on the various renewable energy options available for your business.
Horticulture forum
Horticulture encompasses a diverse range of commercial (production) and amenity (landscape) businesses. Horticulture includes small and medium-sized enterprises which face common challenges to growth and competitiveness in the modern marketplace.
The horticulture forum facilitates communication between all sectors on collective issues. These issues are included in programmes for potential stakeholder support.
The organisations represented on the horticulture forum are Growers NI (bedding plants), NIFFA (cut flowers and foliage), ALCI (landscape contractors), HTA (garden centres), UFU Vegetable Committee, NIFGA (top fruit growers), FIF (fruit industry) and Northway Mushrooms. The current forum also includes co-opted members Thomas Gilpin of Gilfresh, Shane Donnelly of Donnelly Horticulture, Patricia Erwin of UFU, Timothy Hunniford from NIFGA and Kieran Hughes of Hughes Mushrooms.
New office bearers appointed at our October AGM are:
Chairperson – Elaine Shaw (Northway Mushrooms)
Secretary – Elaine Chapman (DARD)
Vice-chairperson – Keith Crawford (ALCI)
Treasurer – Timothy Hunniford (NIFGA)
Public Relations Officer – Shane Donnelly (vice-chairperson, NIFFA)
Thanks to Mr Robin McKee for his chairmanship since the forum’s inception.
One of the first objectives of the horticulture forum was to compile a report entitled ‘Strategic Priorities for the Development of Horticulture in Northern Ireland’ which is available here.
This document outlines to stakeholders the potential horticulture can offer to the Northern Ireland (NI) economy.
The forum has created a link between the HDC (Horticulture Development Council) in Great Britain and the Horticulture Industry in NI which was never done before.
The forum is also providing input into the current Agri-food Strategy Board, which will shape the action plan for farming and horticulture growth over the coming years, and has provided consultation on the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020.
The forum has held several meetings with the Agriculture minister and a number of MLA’s to explain the structure, role and contribution of NI horticulture.
If you are a horticulture business and wish to raise any strategic issues of concern to your business the forum would be very interested to receive your views. Please contact your organisation’s representative on the horticulture forum with any matters specific to your sector. Also, if you need to contact the horticulture forum you can contact Elaine Chapman by phone on 028 9052 4236 or email elaine.chapman@dardni.gov.uk
POULTRY
Prepared by: Stephen Graham
e-mail : Stephen.graham@dardni.gov.uk
telephone: 028 9442 6745
To introduce myself I was recently appointed as the new CAFRE Poultry Technologist based at Greenmount Campus, Antrim. The main emphasis of my job is to assist the poultry industry to raise standards by providing training and support, particularly through the provision of short training courses. Whether you are currently working in poultry or are thinking about starting, please contact me on the above number if you have any queries or problems. I cover all of Northern Ireland and can give advice on all aspects of poultry production. I will be delivering short courses throughout 2014 on different aspects of poultry production, so if you are interested in attending, please get in touch. I look forward to working with you over the next year.
Pododermatitis
The winter season often means additional management issues for the poultry farmer. This includes feet and leg problems such as Hockburn and Pododermatitis. Pododermatitis is proving to be a significant welfare issue (Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012), that can also have financial implications for the farmer. Although this condition is affected by factors including nutrition and enteric health, it is mainly caused by poor litter. This management note provides some practical advice to help you monitor and implement strategies to maintain litter quality so as to limit the occurrence and impact of this ailment.
It is important to recognise the signs and some knowledge of the scoring system is helpful. Lesions will develop on the foot pad, which may start off as small erosions or discoloured patches of skin but can progress into painful ulcerations, large scabs and swollen feet pads and secondary bacterial infections. The scoring system focuses on the seriousness of the lesions as shown below:
Score 0 – none or very small lesions (1-2 mm), slight discoloration and/or mild hyperkeratosis
Score 1 – superficial lesions, significant discolouration of the foot pad, dark papillae, no ulceration
Score 2 – deep lesions, ulceration, severely swollen foot pad, large scab and sometimes haemorrhages
Pododermatitis is mainly affected by litter moisture which is often very difficult to control in cold and wet weather. Therefore, ventilation management is critical at this time of year. Low air temperatures and high humidity means the air flowing into the house falls more rapidly to the floor which causes a drop in the floor temperature and increased moisture levels in the litter. Monitor your ventilation rate on a daily or in some cases hourly basis to check whether it needs to be adjusted. You may need to add additional heat to the incoming air to warm it up and reduce overall relative humidity. In addition, seal any cracks to reduce draughts, paying particular attention to the main doors.
Other tips include:
monitor the drinking system and make sure drinker levels are at the correct height
replace any missing drinking cups
watch for condensation build up on drinking lines
ensure water regulators/pressure is adjusted correctly
The concrete temperature of the house should also be correct (~ 30¬oC) at the time of chick placing. This will help keep the litter at optimum conditions at start of flock. Some farmers have also found that adding extra bedding at intervals throughout the duration of the flock cycle can help maintain good litter quality. However, it is important to have some idea of the moisture content of any additional bedding used in case you inadvertently introduce more moisture into the house.
Maintaining optimum litter conditions this winter will help reduce the incidence of feet problems in the flock, while upholding good welfare and a more favourable financial return.
Bio-security on site
As we are all aware, the spread of disease can have a significant impact on the whole Northern Ireland poultry industry. Site bio-security is your first line of defence and therefore it is vital correct procedures are in place, and adhered to, within each farm. Only authorised personnel should access the site, comply fully with all bio-security measures and fill out the visitors book. Foot dips should be changed regularly, vermin control maintained, cleansing and disinfectant of vehicles entering site and going between various farms performed. Personal hygiene (washing of hands) and the use of disposable clothing should also be implemented as necessary.
As there is always a risk of infection which is out of your control, regular monitoring of bio-security protocols is advised to limit any avoidable spread of disease.
