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.