Water courses best practice in spotlight

A new Teagasc and Inland Fisheries Ireland joint initiative to establish best practice in the Management of Watercourses was launched at the National Ploughing Championships by Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle.

A series of events in November will equip farmers with the knowledge for fish-friendly management of watercourses.

The keys topics covered will include:

* Restricting livestock access

* Fencing of the riparian zone

* Fish-friendly management of trees and plants

* River bank protection

* Development of buffer strips between tilled fields and watercourses

* Invasive species management.

* Preventing barriers to fish movement

* River crossings by box culvert

* Best practice when maintaining previously drained watercourses

According to Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist events planned in November are on Tuesday 5th in Wexford, Sligo and Tipperary; Thursday the 14th in Cork and Kilkenny; Friday the 15th in Monaghan; and Monday the 18th in Mayo (see the events section of the www.teagasc.ie website for details).

All farmers are welcome. These courses qualify as a second optional course for farmers in REPS 4.