'Real fear' over nitrates derogation 'carnage'

“There’s farmers that can’t plan for next spring because they don’t know where they’re going to be, they don’t know what the figure is.”

Irish dairy farmers are anxiously awaiting a decision from Brussels expected in late September / early October as to whether the nitrates derogation maximum stocking rate will be cut from 250kg per hectare to 220kg from 2024.

Farmers are “frustrated” that a likely drop in Ireland’s nitrates derogation will result in “carnage” for the industry.

Farmers of West Cork gathered in Clonakilty on Monday night for a meeting organised by Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard, who told the meeting that the coming weeks are “critical for this part of the world”.