Serious opposition to the recommendations included in the interim report of the Food Vision Dairy Group has been expressed by the main farm organisations.

The opposition centres on the ‘Cap and Trade’ mechanism, which has been proposed to limit overall methane emissions from the dairy sector.

Proposals to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 22% to 25% by 2025, and 30% by 2030, as well as reservations around a cow reduction scheme, have provoked serious concern from both the IFA and ICMSA.

IFA president Tim Cullinan insisted that the association will not support exploring a ‘Cap and Trade’ model for emissions.

“The reality is: this is a quota by another name which IFA is completely opposed to,” Cullinan said.

“We are also opposed to the proposal to force farmers to cut inorganic fertiliser use,” he added.

“The current target, as set out by the Minister [for Agriculture] in AgClimatise... is to reduce inorganic fertiliser use by 20% by 2030. This is already a challenging target and we will not support any further tightening of this,” the IFA leader explained.

Cullinan said the association was willing to engage on the proposed cow exit/reduction scheme on condition that any such initiative would be 100% publicly funded.

However, he cautioned that such a move must not lead to restrictions on any farmer who does not sign up to the scheme; and that other farming sectors had to be fully consulted.

ICMSA president Pat McCormack said he was not confident that the proposals would be supported by his organisation.

“ICMSA does not accept the recommendation on N usage, the specific reference to the dairy sector and the complete absence of clarity on implementation,” he said.

Explanation

“Nor is there any detailed explanation from the Government on how it intends supporting our sector in transitioning further on the sustainability journey,” McCormack added.

“Everyone accepts the need for change, but dairy farmers cannot be expected to take an unjustifiable hit and if they are going to be singled out for restrictions then support is going to have to be similarly specifically directed at dairy farmers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers Journal understands that the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Taskforce will be chaired by Professor Thia Hennessy of UCC.