IFA vows to refuse farm inspections

A STANDOFF has developed between the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and the Department of Agriculture and Food over farm inspections.

It followed an IFA announcement that from Monday, farmers would refuse access for unannounced nitrates and cross-compliance inspections. The IFA is demanding a duplicate copy of the inspector’s report is left with the farmer on the day of the inspection.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said the department is seeking to carry out 1,500 inspections over the next two weeks and is not prepared to inform farmers of the criteria they are using. He said farmers are entitled to see the checklist used by inspectors and how penalties are calculated.

Mr Walshe said the department’s nitrates meetings that took place this week were highly unsatisfactory in explaining the complex nitrates regulations and the penalties included.

“Teagasc advisers were put up front at these meetings to do the department’s dirty work while the regulations require the department to explain, inform and educate farmers of the requirements,” said Mr Walshe. He also questioned how farmers were expected to comply with a regulation while the department and Teagasc disagree on interpretation of the regulations.

Farmers should receive at least 14 days’ notice of inspections.

IFA deputy president Derek Deane said the purpose of the EU regulations was to ensure food safety and environmental protection, and not to provide the department with a licence to witch-hunt farmers.