Officials play down pig farm ‘disaster’ fears

PIG farmers have warned the Nitrates Directive will drive them out of business, without compensation. But Environment Department officials say they had no contact from the pig industry in four years of consultations on nitrates regulations which they hope to finalise with the European Commission this week.

Pig and poultry farmers warn that most of their manure is exported to neighbouring farms, many of which cannot take their manure when the Nitrates Directive is enforced.

The industry’s 1,200 direct and 4,000 related jobs and annual exports of e320m are endangered, says Co Cork pig farmer Maurice O’Brien.