Teagasc has dropped the requirement that farmers who participate in its new Signpost Programme must have a grazing platform stocking rate of less than 3.25 cows per hectare.

As reported in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal, the Signpost Programme is a new flagship programme involving up to 100 farms, the purpose of which is to demonstrate ways to reduce the carbon footprint of Irish dairy.

The measure to cap participation in the programme to only farmers with a grazing platform stocking rate of less than 3.25 cows/ha caused considerable anger and worry among farmers whose farms are stocked above this.

Fears were expressed that if the measures introduced in the Signpost Programme were adopted nationally, a significant number of dairy farmers would have to reduce their cow numbers. The Department of Agriculture has previously stated that grazing platform stocking rates will be looked at in the next review of the Nitrates Derogation, due in 2021.

The Signpost Programme is a collaborative programme, led by Teagasc, but involving industry partners and state bodies such as Bord Bia.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that talks are ongoing between Teagasc and Bord Bia about integrating the findings from the Signpost Programme into the various Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes.

A spokesperson for Teagasc confirmed the change to the Signpost Programme requirements on Wednesday, saying: “Teagasc has confirmed that what was merely an indicative target did cause some confusion, so it has been removed and a more refined target will be developed well in advance of the launch of the programme early in the new year.”