A total of €5m has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture in 2021 to carry out a farm biodiversity study.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Pippa Hackett told the Irish Farmers Journal on Wednesday that the Department will engage with “farmers and biodiversity experts” as to what is needed to be identified on farms.
“In my head, I have an idea that we’ll be looking at different types of farms and compare maybe across the board dairy farms, upland farms, lowland farms, tillage farms and getting a measure of what the biodiversity impact on those farms is.
“It’s really to give us a benchmark to work from and so we can identify what we can improve on those farms,” she said.
Peatland rewetting
As revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal in July, there is to be a new peatland rewetting scheme in 2021.
“In relation to funding for rewetting, there’s a call open for an EIP style fund for rewetting of farmed peatlands in the midlands. That’s going to be open until the end of this month.
The EIP study will greatly inform us what adaptations farmers can make to farm in a different way on such lands
“Rewetting will form a big part of our climate mitigation measures and while we haven’t identified a specific funding figure for rewetting, it will be part of the process going forward.
“The EIP study will greatly inform us what adaptations farmers can make to farm in a different way on such lands,” she said.
Wool feasibility study
In a welcome move for sheep farmers, the Department is to spend €100,000 on a feasibility study on the wool market.
Minister Hackett said she would like to see this up and running as soon as possible.
“There’s been plummeting prices of wool in recent years, in particular this year, they are stark. There are many bags full, even in our sheds at home, they’ve been sitting there without a home to go to.
The scope there is within wool
“I think it’s something that’s long been called for from sheep farmers. The scope there is within wool, whether it’s insulation, construction, fertiliser products, bedding... the scope is huge.
“If we can just tap into that and ideally find a domestic market for that and build jobs around that,” she said.
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Budget 2021: €100,000 for wool market study and €5m for farm biodiversity
A total of €5m has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture in 2021 to carry out a farm biodiversity study.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Pippa Hackett told the Irish Farmers Journal on Wednesday that the Department will engage with “farmers and biodiversity experts” as to what is needed to be identified on farms.
“In my head, I have an idea that we’ll be looking at different types of farms and compare maybe across the board dairy farms, upland farms, lowland farms, tillage farms and getting a measure of what the biodiversity impact on those farms is.
“It’s really to give us a benchmark to work from and so we can identify what we can improve on those farms,” she said.
Peatland rewetting
As revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal in July, there is to be a new peatland rewetting scheme in 2021.
“In relation to funding for rewetting, there’s a call open for an EIP style fund for rewetting of farmed peatlands in the midlands. That’s going to be open until the end of this month.
The EIP study will greatly inform us what adaptations farmers can make to farm in a different way on such lands
“Rewetting will form a big part of our climate mitigation measures and while we haven’t identified a specific funding figure for rewetting, it will be part of the process going forward.
“The EIP study will greatly inform us what adaptations farmers can make to farm in a different way on such lands,” she said.
Wool feasibility study
In a welcome move for sheep farmers, the Department is to spend €100,000 on a feasibility study on the wool market.
Minister Hackett said she would like to see this up and running as soon as possible.
“There’s been plummeting prices of wool in recent years, in particular this year, they are stark. There are many bags full, even in our sheds at home, they’ve been sitting there without a home to go to.
The scope there is within wool
“I think it’s something that’s long been called for from sheep farmers. The scope there is within wool, whether it’s insulation, construction, fertiliser products, bedding... the scope is huge.
“If we can just tap into that and ideally find a domestic market for that and build jobs around that,” she said.
Read more
EU edges closer to carbon-crediting scheme for farmers
Agriculture a priority sector in EU’s methane reduction strategy
'Health warning' on consanguinity relief in Budget 2021 - ifac
Budget 2021: everything farmers need to know
Budget 2021: €100,000 for wool market study and €5m for farm biodiversity
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