Farmers’ role in enhancing environment ignored

THE wild and factually incorrect assertions by Roderic O’Sullivan (Letters, May 31) show a complete failure to recognise the efforts by farmers to enhance the rural environment.

The significant investment that has been made by farmers in recent years is showing tangible results in terms of higher water quality, while pilot schemes such as the Shannon callows have safeguarded the corncrake and the agri-environment scheme (REPS and AEOS) have transformed the rural environment. The latest EPA figures, which show that 85% of fish kills are attributable to non-agricultural sources, illustrate Mr O’Sullivan’s casual relationship with facts. If he were to visit this country, he would see the resounding success of the walkways scheme that has enabled thousands of recreational walkers to enjoy routes such as the Sheeps Head and Beara Way in Co Cork, the Bluestack Mountains in Donegal and the Suck Valley Way in Roscommon/Galway. The work of Comhairle na Tuaithe, with the co-operation of landowners and recreational bodies, proves that consensus rather than conflict is the way forward.

IFA has also worked with the Golden Eagle Trust, the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc and Kerry County Council in the production of an advice leaflet for farmers in Kerry on the control of foxes and crows. Your readers are entitled to a balanced view of farmers’ role in rural Ireland and not the biased rhetoric which Mr O’Sullivan has also displayed on occasions in the past.