Soiled water fears for non-livestock farms

NITRATE directive controls on soiled water have been further muddied by claims that farmers without livestock are being targeted for inspection.

Limerick County IFA has been asked to clarify the situation for farmers without livestock, in relation to water run-off from sheds.

Simon White, Askeaton told a meeting of Limerick IFA, “I’m told that farmers who don’t keep livestock have been instructed that they require gutters on all of the houses and sheds in the farmyard, and that the rainwater must be collected and directed to a watercourse.”

“One farmer who is not actively farming and has his land let was targeted by an inspector who told him that he required gutters on his sheds. These people are not always in a position to spend a lot of money but they are being hassled,” he said.

He asked IFA to specifically clarify who is responsible, and who can be penalised, if a farm is let, but without the use of the farmyard.

County Chairman Michael Roche said a farmer without the use of land would not have a Single Farm Payment to which a penalty could be applied. “If the farmer renting the land does not have the use of the farmyard, I find it hard to see how he could be penalised for something for which he is not responsible.”