Dairy farmers facing ‘most complex transition in living memory’

Farmers have just over three months to meet the new stocking rate requirements by reducing their herd size or buying or renting more land under nitrates derogation rules

Tirlán CEO Jim Bergin: Nitrates decision is 'the culmination of a fear we have had for a long time'.

The decision to slash Ireland’s nitrates derogation following years of rapid dairy expansion will force farmers to endure the most complex transition in a lifetime, Tirlán chief executive Jim Bergin has warned.

Farmers have just over three months to meet the new stocking rate requirements by reducing their herd size or buying or renting more land — no easy task with thousands of other Irish farmers all in the same position.