Proposed EU restrictions pose serious threat to farm incomes

EUROPEAN Union proposals to dramatically reduce the use of plant protection products have major implications for the competitiveness of Irish tillage farming, a conference was told yesterday.

Brendan Barnes, director, Animal and Plant Health Association, joint organisers with the IFA of the conference at Dublin Airport, said the proposed restrictions would curtail production of cereals, potatoes and vegetables much more seriously than the Nitrate Directive has done for livestock farmers.

He urged farmers to actively lobby European Parliament members on the damage to Irish tillage farming if some of the more extreme proposals are not rejected.