Simon Clarke Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Farmers urged to take advantage of pest control scheme 12 th Dec 2012…………….……………………………………………….immediate release Farmers in Northern Ireland are being urged to take advantage of a pest control scheme run by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU). The scheme will put farmers in touch with people who shoot so they can help reduce damage caused by pests. Speaking during a recent meeting of the North West dairy group in Limavady, BASC NI director Tommy Mayne highlighted the benefits of the BASC/UFU Pest Control Scheme which has been in operation since August 2011. The pest control service is provided free of charge and has proved popular with members of both BASC and the UFU. Speaking after the meeting Tommy Mayne, BASC Northern Ireland director, said: “Shooting is the most effective way of reducing pest damage but some farmers have reported difficulty in making contact with reliable shooters. This scheme puts BASC NI members in touch with their local farmers who may be experiencing difficulties with pests. BASC members get access to new areas for shooting opportunities and farmers get much needed help with pests that are damaging crops, taking livestock and spreading disease. Farmers will also have peace of mind from knowing that BASC members are covered by the BASC insurance policy which covers both the shooter and the farmer.” Since the scheme started BASC members have dealt with a range of pest problems across the province from feral pigeons in sheds to woodpigeons damaging crops and foxes taking poultry and newborn lambs. Ian Marshall, Ulster Farmers’ Union deputy president, said: “Farmers have an ongoing problem with pest control on farms and this scheme provides a win-win situation for shooters and farmers. I would hope all BASC and UFU members will register as soon as possible to extend the scheme." The pest control scheme is only available to BASC and UFU members. If you are a shooter but not a BASC member, phone 028 9260 5050, visit the BASC website: www.basc.org.uk or email: nire@basc.org.uk to join. Farmers who are not UFU members but want to take advantage of the scheme can join the UFU by phoning 028 9037 0222. BASC NI will put UFU members in touch with their closest registered BASC members. ENDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 basc member a good while now.put my name down for this and have had no word thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 When will we see a scheme like this here in Britain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 When will we see a scheme like this here in Britain? Hopefully never. Last time they tried a somewhat similar campaign here they dropped it due to very many adverse comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hi Tweedle, Indeed, that's why Tommy has been giving the UFU another push on this! Reece, We have a similar scheme in the East of England, but as the NFU are in effect broken up into regions over here so we have to try to deal with each in turn. David, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hopefully never. Last time they tried a somewhat similar campaign here they dropped it due to very many adverse comments. Do you have a link to a news article or something? Don't think I remember hearing about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 (edited) Hi Tweedle, Indeed, that's why Tommy has been giving the UFU another push on this! Reece, We have a similar scheme in the East of England, but as the NFU are in effect broken up into regions over here so we have to try to deal with each in turn. David, Heard about the East of England thing, sent two emails with details, never got a response (not even a automated thing). Never heard anything from BASC after about the date of publication (8 months now? can't remember) nor know anyone who did. Ultimately the issues with this is that the farmers have to much at risks to the (often minimal) effect random pest shoots have to offer. Edited December 12, 2012 by Bleeh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Do you have a link to a news article or something? Don't think I remember hearing about it. It was discussed some while ago on this site. The consensus was that it was not something BASC should involve itself in. Many thought that such a scheme could result in them loosing their hard sought after permissions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Ultimately, if farmers have a problem with pigeons or indeed other pests, and they cannot get the 'incumbent' shooter to help, what do you expect the farmer to do? He’s going to look elsewhere. If a shooter is doing the business and helping to deliver on what they promised regarding pest control then the farmer is not going to look elsewhere are they, and so any venture between BASC and the NFU is not going to put at risk anyone’s permission is it? The NFU in the East of England contact us asking for help, and we contacted members and asked if they wanted to go on the register, if and when a farmer got in touch with a pest problem we would put them in touch with local members who were on the register. In the end only a couple of farmers got in touch. Regards David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe99 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 David/Simon - are there any plans for a similar scheme in Wales? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka.223 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 basc member a good while now.put my name down for this and have had no word thus far. I also put my name down for this when it was launched and have never had any contact from BASC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Likewise. I understand that they are promoting this scheme, but to argue that farmers are having trouble contacting shooters shows either a lack of proper promotion or invalidity. Everyone I know that joined the scheme hasn't heard a thing since. There was one fella from over here that I recall benefited from the scheme. I'd like to see statistics on how successful the launch has been in terms of conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 don`t get me wrong i have thousands of acres to shoot over,just be nice to get somewhere new.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka.223 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I'd like to see statistics on how successful the launch has been in terms of conversion. I would like to see this aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 No probs I will ask David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bolt94 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I am also on this register. I guess it might take a while to become established. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 Simon is not in his office today, but will give me an update next week. For those that e-mailed the Eastern register and did not get a reply, please get in touch with me and I will check, everyone should have been replied to within 72 hrs David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I got an email from basc today regarding this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 Joe, The farming community in Wales have not been in touch with us yet. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka.223 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I got an email from basc today regarding this Recieved an email aswell,it would appear from a quick read of it that its the farmers that have been slow on the uptake of the scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willks84 Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 Knock knock, "hiya sir seen a lot of pigeons on ur land would it be ok to have ago at them?" Is this not how ppl have got pigeon shooting for years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 Knock knock, "hiya sir seen a lot of pigeons on ur land would it be ok to have ago at them?" Is this not how ppl have got pigeon shooting for years? This topic is about the exploration of a different method of gaining permission, but thank you for enlightening us with your knowledgeable and helpful input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willks84 Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 Happy to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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