Nothing can equal the farmers’ experience on the ground

IT is fortunate for REPS farmers that Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan has used her common sense, and extended the deadline for slurry spreading from August 31 to October 15, for this year.

But her decision raises a question — why are farmers not given greater discretion in making farm management decisions, to suit unpredictable weather patterns?

The wettest summer for several decades should teach the legislators a lesson — that farming by the calendar, which they demand, is nonsense.

Even well-drained farmland was waterlogged in July 2007, when REPS farmers were supposed to be spreading slurry.

The vast majority of farmers are far more expert and responsible in deciding when it is appropriate to carry out farm tasks than many of the so-called specialists who make the rules for farming.

Rigid decision-making, according to the date on the calendar, is no substitute.