Farmers demand McConalogue stands up to EU over decision on nitrates derogation

Thousands of dairy farmers could be forced to reduce herds in the next four months or spend money to acquire extra land

Irish Farmers' Association members protest outside the Department of Agriculture in Dublin on Thursday.

Irish farmers have vented their fury at Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue after changes to nitrates rules by the European Commission could force them to either reduce their cattle herds or spend money on additional land.

The European Commission has decided not to review its decision to cease Ireland's nitrates derogation. Nitrates loading rules mean that farmers must have sufficient land on which to spread the manure from their herds.

Ireland’s nitrates derogation allows farmers who meet certain more rigorous conditions to farm at higher stocking rates. However, the country’s current derogation is due to expire on January 1, 2026, with the limit due to reduce to 220kg/ha from 250kg/ha on January 1, 2024, in certain areas.

Without the derogation, the commission’s limit is 170kg/ha.

This means thousands of dairy farmers could be forced to reduce their herd sizes over the next four months or spend money to acquire or rent additional land to adhere to the rules.

The decision was met with protests from members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) in Dublin outside the Department of Agriculture. 

Irish Farmers' Association members protest before Thursday's meeting on the nitrates derogation.

Inside the department, representatives of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICSMA) were meeting with Mr McConalogue.

Pat McCormack, president of the ICSMA, said they told Mr McConalogue to go back to the European Commission and get the reduction changed.

This is not an abstract consideration; for hundreds of farmers, the decision he accepted means that generations of farming will end — it literally is as simple as that.

“That can’t happen, and it certainly can’t happen when the kind of sweeping measures we’ve already introduced to improve water quality have not even been given a chance to demonstrate their effectiveness," said Mr McCormack.

Tim Cullinan, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), said Mr McConalogue allowing these changes to the derogation to go ahead without consultation with farmers “has shown total disrespect” and “disregard for all farmers”.

He said the changes would mean a 15% cut in the production of dairy and livestock farmers.

IFA president Tim Cullinan said Mr McConalogue allowing the changes to the derogation to go ahead without consultation with farmers 'has shown total disrespect'. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

Mr Cullinan said the protests will be escalated, with plans to protest outside the parliamentary think-ins of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael next week.

“Whatever length of time it takes with protests, we'll be there,” he said.

The IFA was joined in its protest by Macra na Feirme, with the organisation's president Elaine Houlihan saying they “firmly believe that a strong enough fight hasn't gone into save our derogation”.

Patrick Walsh, a farmer from Offaly, said the decrease in production expected from farmers is going to hit farm incomes.

"To turn round and decrease production on the basis of nitrates is not right… It’s also putting pressure on food security,” he said.

"Farmers have agreed to 30 measures with regard to the climate action plan and let those measures be implemented, and let those measures bear fruit till we see what they achieve.” 

Farmer Pat Farrell from Stradbally in Co Laois said a lot of improvements have been made on farms over the years and “they haven't given them time to work”.

Mr Farrell said Mr McConalogue needs to listen to farmers and to act.

“A lot of people have invested over the years in dairy and now it transpires a few years later the rug has been pulled from under their feet,” Mr Farrell said.

Mary Sheridan from Longford protests outside the Department of Agriculture.

Jim Mulhall from Kilkenny said the nitrates derogation decision means that farmers will face increased competition for land.

"You have no extra income for renting the land and people are being forced into the land market, which is the problem,” he said.

The Government now has until September 30 to put forward its case in relation to the derogation decision, with politicians hoping that at the very least the implementation date can be extended.

Members of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee yesterday travelled to Brussels to meet with Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius on the issue.

Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard told the commissioner that implementing the changes would force a cull of dairy herds and would amount to "carnage for rural Ireland".

"We had a constructive meeting; we have now opened dialogue and we are now going to engage in direct correspondence with the commissioner," said Mr Lombard, who attended the meeting with fellow committee members Jackie Cahill, Michael Fitzmaurice, and Paul Daly.

"We have asked him for flexibility because if we don't get some flexibility, we are going to have a situation where farmers will be forced into a cull of cattle and that's not possible."