Minister says crop plan makes no sense
The proposals for tillage farmers include 7% of farmland set aside for nature. “It won’t be anything like that in the final agreement,” said Mr Coveney at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet, describing the 7% as immoral when global food security is at issue. He said 30% greening is also too high, and a proposal that tillage farmers must cultivate at least three crops also needs improving. Where it exists, biodiversity should be protected, but the EU can’t force these proposals on every farmer, said Mr Coveney in Millstreet.
Earlier, he told the Dáil: “The idea that one would be required to have a minimum of 5% of arable land, planted with three different crops, is a bit of a nonsense. I think what the commission would have liked to do is put in place a measure that required farmers to have crop rotation plans on arable farms, but it was proving very difficult to write a policy that would be easily enforceable. What we have is a measure that will be questioned, amended and changed under the greening.
“The 7% eco-focus areas include hedgerows. There are more hedgerows in Ireland per square kilometre than in any other country in Europe and we can count hedgerows as part of the 7%. In real terms, it is much easier for Irish farmers to set aside that level of land than for many farmers on mainland Europe.
“From my perspective, however, the idea of setting aside any land that could be used to produce food when there are issues surrounding food security and when Ireland can produce quality, safe food for which there is a strong demand in Europe and globally makes no sense. If we need to protect areas for ecological reasons we should zone in on protecting those areas, as we do at present. To require every farm in the country to set land aside, regardless of the conditions, environmental value or biodiversity on the farm seems to me to be a very blunt tool.”
