Nitrates to top forum agenda

THE new Nitrates Regulations have been law since July, but there’s been precious little clarification for farmers trying to interpret some of the complicated rules in the 14,000-word document.

Farmers are in an information vacuum, while talks continue with Teagasc and the Government on interpreting the regulations at farm level.

Until the finer details are worked out, the Government can’t issue guide books to farmers and the promised series of public meetings to inform them of the regulations can’t take place.

However, farmers attending the Irish Examiner Farming Forum during the National Dairy Show at Millstreet this Saturday will get a good idea from Tom Dunne, chairman of the Irish Farmers’ Association’s Environment Committee of how the regulations will be implemented.

Meanwhile, any questions about the Farm Waste Management Scheme will be fielded by Tom Ryan, a Teagasc building specialist.

His expert information on designs and costings should be useful for those still considering grant applications and pondering the big question: is a big investment in buildings worthwhile?

The answer to much the same question will be given by those speaking on milk quotas, including Philip Carroll, from the Department of Agriculture’s Milk Policy Division, and John Enright, senior policy executive with the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association.

At a number of earlier meetings, headcounts indicated poor demand from buyers in the new Milk Quota Exchange, which is replacing the Restructuring Scheme. However, the Millstreet forum may reveal changes in this trend ahead of the imminent start of the application period.

The forum will also offer farmers with winter fodder worries the animal nutrition expertise of Richard Keenan and Co — few companies have done more to diversify feed availability in Ireland, achieving impressive results with dry cow diets.

Keenan’s speakers will outline the best value feeds available at the moment and explain how to maximise their value in conjunction with existing farm fodder.

Anyone wanting to catch the Winter Feed session should be in the Coach Room at 1.30pm, while presentations on milk quotas will run from around 2pm to 2.50pm.

Meanwhile, Preparing Your Farm For Nitrate Compliance will be the talk topic from around 2.50pm to 3.40pm.

The Irish Examiner Farming Forum will be chaired by Tim O’ Leary, a dairy farmer from Carrigrohane, Co Cork.

The forum will include question and answer sessions.