POACHING OF LAND
Did you know that Poaching of land is an offence under the Nitrate Regulations SI
No 610 of 2010 European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of
Waters) and SI No 125 of the 2011 European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for
the Protection of Waters). Poaching can occur where land is “Cut Up” through cattle
moving or tramping on wet soils. This removes the vegetative cover, leaving the soil
open to the elements and prone to being washed away via surface water run off to
nearby surface water drains and watercourses. Poaching is problem on the farm
where farm animals are grazing on wet water logged land, around areas of
gateways , feeding areas and watering points..
Poached and traffic damaged land at gateway
Poached by farm animals
Poached land around feeders
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Poached land around watering point
Simple management changes can help to reduce Poaching on
your land:
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know your soils and avoid livestock grazing during wet periods in
vulnerable locations
maintain field drainage to keep soils reasonably dry
use mobile feeders and move them regularly to limit poaching and
contamination of feed with soil
use multiple feeders and drinkers and space them out to spread the
impact
provide hard bases to limit poaching
site feeders and drinkers away from watercourses and ditches to
minimise the risk of pollution
site feeders and drinkers at the top of fields away from gateways to
minimise poaching and runoff
protect riverbanks and watercourses from uncontrolled access by
livestock
when supplement feeding, provide sufficient feed blocks and liquid
feeders that can be regularly checked and moved
use ATVs or reduce tyre pressures and improve vehicle access to
reduce wheelings when managing feeders and drinkers
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