New map confirms derogation cut area
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he recognises it is a “challenging outcome for some farmers".
Thousands of Irish dairy farmers remain set to be hit by the new tighter nitrates derogation limit, as the "final implementation map" published this week by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine shows most of the country remains included in the zoned area, which will come into effect in the new year.
While the European Commission was clear that its derogation decision would not change, the department identified a limited opportunity to amend the interpretation of the map.
Department officials confirmed the latest interpretation of the Environmental Protection Agency's data resulted in the removal of a small amount of land, equating to 6% of the total area initially identified to move to 220kg/ha.
This work, completed by the EPA and presented to the Water Quality Working Group, resulted in the removal of a small amount of land from the area to be reduced to 220kg/ha, where underlying water quality is good.
A department spokesperson said: “Although these areas did not meet the criteria set down in Article 12 of the commission implementing the decision, solely due to an increase in nitrates concentration between 2021 and 2022, water quality is still good, and the appropriate action from an agricultural perspective is identified as being to protect that good water quality status. Farmers in these areas may continue farming at a maximum derogation stocking rate of 250kg organic N/ha.”
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he recognises it is a “challenging outcome for some farmers".
Commenting on the ‘released’ maps, ICMSA president Pat McCormack said the Department's priority should now be to inform individual farmers of what zone they fall into, and - more importantly – to give them the range of practical help that would be needed to keep enterprises viable.
Mr McCormack said his organisation had already set out five measures that were within the powers of the Irish Government to apply, and called for these to be introduced and publicised without delay.
The measures include rewarding farmers for feeding low-protein concentrates, using slurry analysis to calculate actual nitrates values, and financial aid package for those who will have to scale back their businesses as a result.
“We have to move past this shambolic maladministration and start giving the affected farmers the best options that will allow them to move forward and away from the wreckage that was our Government’s defence of our national derogation”, said Mr McCormack.
