All sectors must play part in green goal, says IFA
But IFA president John Dillon warned that if the central clean water goal of the EU Nitrates Directive is to be achieved, all sectors of the economy must play their part, measured against an accurate scientific baseline of nutrient loadings, including natural background levels. “Farmers cannot be expected, or required, to make any more than their fair contribution under EU and national legislation,” he said.
Mr Dillon made his comments when announcing that the IFA had made a submission on the directive to Environment Minister Martin Cullen in advance of talks with the Government on the implementation of action programmes.
He said over 2 billion had been spent since 1990 on farm buildings and their associated manure storage facilities. Over this same period, grant support amounted to just 310 million, or 17% of this total. “For many farm families, any requirement to improve or increase manure storage will threaten their economic viability. There must be greater financial support for this work,” he said. Mr Dillon also called for a central role for Teagasc in the State’s response to the requirements of the directive.
Mr Dillon said the IFA was insisting the Government pursue and achieve an overall organic nitrogen limit of 250 kg per hectare. This limit was totally justified based on the overall good quality of water, with 70% of rivers and 85% of lakes classified as unpolluted, and the grass-based nature of farming systems. The IFA was also looking for significant changes to the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the Farm Waste Management Scheme and the promotion of soil testing with substantial discounting of testing charges for farmers.
But it vehemently opposes the inclusion of specific soil test values in agricultural regulations relating to the landspreading of manure.
In its submission, the IFA described farmers as guardians of the countryside and its heritage, explaining that the clean environment is a legacy from many generations of farmers whose activities over the years have contributed to a high quality countryside.
Noting that the overall quality of water was very good, it said the incidence of slight to moderate pollution in certain watercourses had shown a slight increase over the last 25 years.
The causes of this increase have been attributed to enrichment by nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Discharges from municipal waste water treatment plants, industry, septic tanks and domestic housing, and agriculture contribute to nutrients in water. Noting that the use of nitrogen and phosphorus in agriculture is critically important to crop growth and production systems, it said Good Farming Practice under the Agenda 2000 CAP reform, and changes in EU farm policy, have resulted in substantial reductions in fertiliser usage.
Phosphorus fertiliser consumption has declined from a peak of around 92,000 tonnes per annum in 1973, to just over 40,000 tonnes per annum in 2001, or a 56% decline. Nitrogen fertiliser consumption has also declined from a peak of around 440,000 tonnes (1999) to 360,000 tonnes (2001), or a decline of 18%.
