Farming chief criticises attempts to ‘sterilise’ countryside

ATTEMPTS to “sterilise” the countryside were criticised by the president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), John Bryan, at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show yesterday.

He said 15 years of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) has enhanced the rural environment and supported the development of one of the most sustainable farming systems in the world.

Mr Bryan was critical of some environmentalists who do not recognise the many positive benefits from the investment farmers have made.

“They choose to ignore the realities of the countryside as a vibrant working resource, producing food and delivering public goods.

“Their policy of effectively sterilising the countryside must be resisted as the inevitable outcome would be a reduction in activity that would impact on the rural economy and, in turn, undermine the rural environment,” he said.

Mr Bryan said Irish farmers have shown that the production of quality food and the safeguarding of the environment are not in conflict, as some commentators claim.

“Farmers have contributed hugely to the enhancement of the countryside, increased biodiversity and provided a greater choice of visitor attractions for tourists, all of which is valued by society,” the IFA chief said.

Mr Bryan said the opportunity to build on this success would be jeopardised if more than 25,000 farmers leaving REPS3 are not accommodated in the new Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) next year.

Mr Bryan said Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith should provide certainty ahead of the December budget for farmers who are exiting REPS3, and who wish to continue with an environmental programme on their farms.

Warning that 25,000 farmers cannot be left in limbo, he said government investment in farm schemes generates a return through employment in the sector, increasing the value of exports and sustaining the rural economy.