Retaining nitrates derogation for farmers ‘a priority’

The Minister for Agriculture has said his number one priority is to retain the nitrates derogation for Irish farmers.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland from the National Ploughing Championships, Martin Heydon said the derogation should remain for Irish farmers because Ireland is a country with a pasture-based system, which is different to most other countries in the EU.

Organisers said 78,500 people attended the first day of the Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly, yesterday.

Mr Heydon said Ireland’s 7,000 derogation farmers farm at a higher level, with a higher level of conditionality.

Under the EU Nitrates Directive, farmers have to ensure the total amount of nitrogen from organic manure applied to their land does not exceed 170kg per hectare per year.

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However, Irish farmers have a derogation allowing use of up to 250kg – though that expires at the end of this year.

Mr Heydon added that: “Irish cows are out on grass on average, 240 days of the year, compared to the intensive system across Europe, where a lot of those cows don’t see the sky too often.”

Read more: Long list of issues facing farmers in spotlight as ‘the Ploughing’ kicks off

The derogation issue remains a challenge, he said, particularly when the European Commission has outlined their requirement for Ireland to also address compliance with the Habitats Directive.

However, farmers are continuing to take measures to improve water conditions, and he is in detailed negotiations with the commission, he said.

He pointed out that no European country has had to make changes in regards to the Habitats Directive.

It is an onerous undertaking, Mr Heydon said, adding that the commission needs to understand the amount of time it will take.

“We are working really, really intensively to tell that story around the efforts we’re making, the ongoing efforts that our farmers are taking, the positive impact that’s having, and the fact that we need time to implement a new approach here that they’re looking for.”

Mr Heydon said he will fight for more money into the Common Agricultural Policy fund for the farming and agricultural sector because it is “absolutely pivotal to farm incomes viability”.

“That is critical for their income, to support their farm viability, and for the rural economies in which they’re in. We have got to get the cap funding back up to at least 100% of what it is now.”

The minister added that there are a number of avenues still available, and he has engaged with EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, who agrees there “is an opportunity for us to chase more money from a European perspective”.