A SET of maps showing the new moorland designations is available for inspection at MAFF's Northallerton regional service centre.

But farmers attending a seminar at Barnard Castle earlier this month were advised to make an appointment to view them, to avoid possible waits.

The seminar was organised by the Northallerton centre and included presentations on some of the new schemes.

Subjects included sheep tagging requirements, the slaughter premium scheme, countryside stewardship, extensification premium and hill farming allowance schemes.

A lively question and answer session was held, but officers had to check two of the inquiries.

The first related to lambs born on rented grazing after January 1, 2001. The questioner wanted to know how soon these animals would need to be tagged.

MAFF has now said they should be treated in exactly the same way as they would be if they had been born on the keeper's own holding and tagged before they were moved.

Another producer was concerned about risks of infection and asked if dispensations would allow animals not to be tagged if the producer thought fly strike was a problem at the rented site.

The advice is that no dispensation would be available in such a case. MAFF says the legislation makes it clear that animals must be identified before they leave the holding of birth.

The leaflet "Best tagging and tattooing practice" has been sent to all keepers and advises, wherever possible, to fit tags in cool weather and to consider using a topical insecticide.

The meeting at the Jersey Farm hotel drew about 30 farmers and MAFF would like to hold similar events elsewhere in the area.