Guidance Notes For Completion Of The Agricultural & Horticultural Survey December 2009
Note 1 - You are the person responsible for making the return if;
You own or occupy agricultural land or have livestock, either solely or in a family business on 1 DECEMBER 2009
If you or your family business own two or more holdings which are farmed as one farm with the same labour and machinery, record all your crops and livestock etc. on the form relating to the main holding, and return any others sent to you marked "EXTRA". You should only complete separate forms for each farm if they have been registered by the Department as separate businesses.
If you are no longer farming or all your land is let and you do not grow any crops or keep farm livestock, please complete the section titled ‘If you have stopped farming or changes to the business’. If possible please pass the form to the new owner for completion. Otherwise, sign and return this form in the pre-paid envelope provided. (No postage stamp required).
Note 2 – Conserved Fodder and Crops
Agricultural surveys are conducted in metric units. Areas are measured in hectares (ha) instead of acres and weights in tonnes (i.e. metric tonnes) instead of imperial tons. Record the areas of crops as appropriate to you to 1 decimal place only e.g 10.5. Calculation and conversion tables are on a separate sheet enclosed with this form as a guide.
Note 3 – Cattle
The data on cattle, as prescribed by EU regulations, will be taken from APHIS. However, information on breeding heifers is not currently available from APHIS and as this a mandatory requirement of these regulations, you are requested to complete section 3b (if applicable). Please exclude store and fattening heifers from 3b - Replacement Breeding Heifers.
Note 4 – Sheep
Information relating to sheep will be taken from the Annual Inventory of Sheep and Goats.If you only have sheep on your farm and conserved no fodder during 2009, please simply sign and return the form in the pre-paid envelope provided (No postage stamp required).
Don’t forget to complete and return your Sheep Inventory card when you receive it or you can submit it over the Internet on ‘APHIS’ online
If you have any queries about the form please ring (028) 9052 5432 for assistance.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
The results will be published on our website www.ruralni.gov.uk