Crazy Nitrates Directive will put an end to commercial farming
The problems this illogical and unscientific set of regulations will cause are nowhere as acute as they are in west Cork.
Let me be as clear as the situation demands: the directive is a total disaster for west Cork farmers. It seems very likely that our pig and poultry producers will go the same way as Irish beet producers - and very quickly at that.
They simply will not be able to operate economically under these draconian rules. How many jobs in west Cork depend on these two sectors?
The farmers are not alone in this dilemma. What about west Cork’s food processing and agricultural input supply sector? The dairy sector, which is of huge importance to the region, is also under threat and politicians seem to be totally oblivious to the problems facing their own farmer and farm-related constituents. Our politicians have failed abysmally to represent our interests on this matter.
The current political tactic is to blame Teagasc. And, without doubt, Teagasc has erred badly on the Nitrates Directive. But the farmers of Cork will not be fooled - at the end of the day, it is the Minister for Environment and Local Government and the Minister for Agriculture and Food who have implemented this crazy directive that will end commercial farming in west Cork unless it is radically changed.
Teagasc have totally failed the farming community on this matter and they have lost the confidence of farmers, but we look to our politicians to defend our right to earn a living.
They must stop the blame game and set about putting in place workable solutions to the problems facing us. The current rules are crazy, unworkable and will criminalise farmers. The time for spinning and finger-pointing is past.
ICMSA tried for the last two years to make all the other parties to this fiasco see the sense in our solution whereby regulations would only have applied to those regions of the country that had a scientifically proven nitrates problem.
Instead, Irish farmers have had a one-size-fits-all policy foisted on them that will end commercial farming in many parts of Ireland, such as west Cork.
Three areas must be immediately addressed: 1. P and N level allowable. The production of grass is our key competitive advantage. Unless the P and N restrictions are increased to realistic levels, we will lose this advantage and commercial farming will cease in west Cork. The current levels allowable are way too low.
2. Closed periods. The close periods for slurry-spreading make no sense. Closed periods should be based on weather conditions and a system should be put in place to facilitate this.
3. Paperwork and red tape. The level of red tape and paperwork is beyond belief. Simplified procedures must be put in place.
Teagasc and government departments continue to squabble and make excuses. The only losers are the farmers. It is about time these State agencies got their house in order by injecting some reality into the nitrates directive and allow farmers to farm.
Water quality has improved in west Cork and will continue to do so. We just don’t need these draconian rules. A radical reappraisal is needed - and needed quickly - if commercial farming is to continue in the region. Time is running out and we’re looking to our politicians for help and fairness.
Donal Harte
Chairperson
ICMSA
West Cork Executive
Lislevane
Bandon
Co Cork
