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.