Gorse fires on 'Hell Mountain', Ceim an Easpaig, Portmagee, Co Kerry. \ Valerie O'Sullivan
ADVERTISEMENT
The IFA is urging Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan to extend the period in which controlled burning of vegetation can take place until the end of March.
Currently farmers can only cut hedges and burn vegetation from 1 September to 28 February.
Last year, the Heritage Bill was passed which, in time, allows for limited hedge-cutting in August and controlled burning in March.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, the bill did not come into force in 2018 because regulations were not in place.
IFA national hill committee chair Flor McCarthy said hill farmers in particular would benefit from a prolonged burning period and urged the minister to act quickly as discussions on the regulation were due to close at the end of January.
However, a number of environment groups have opposed an extension to the burning period, saying it would damage wildlife habitats.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
The IFA is urging Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan to extend the period in which controlled burning of vegetation can take place until the end of March.
Currently farmers can only cut hedges and burn vegetation from 1 September to 28 February.
Last year, the Heritage Bill was passed which, in time, allows for limited hedge-cutting in August and controlled burning in March.
However, the bill did not come into force in 2018 because regulations were not in place.
IFA national hill committee chair Flor McCarthy said hill farmers in particular would benefit from a prolonged burning period and urged the minister to act quickly as discussions on the regulation were due to close at the end of January.
However, a number of environment groups have opposed an extension to the burning period, saying it would damage wildlife habitats.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS