Farmers could be facing draconion sectoral targets for emissions cuts.

Writing in the Irish Farmers Journal this week, Professor Gerry Boyle expressed concern that 26.8m tonnes of carbon sinks, previously factored into the climate action bill, have disappeared.

The Teagasc director, a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council, compared this moment to the advent of the introduction of milk quotas, which paralysed an entire sector for 30 years. Boyle warned that unless carbon removals by agriculture are taken into account, livelihoods are at stake within farming and the wider rural economy.

The major issue is whether the proposed five-year budget will take carbon removals into account

IFA president Tim Cullinan is demanding clarity from Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan regarding the issue.

“The IFA has a number of concerns with the bill. The major issue is whether the proposed five-year budget will take carbon removals into account, and whether these will be ring-fenced for agriculture.”

The concerns come as An Taisce launches a third challenge to the planning granted to Glanbia’s cheese plant in Belview, Co Kilkenny.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on Wednesday, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that there is “a tremendous and mounting pressure on farmers that is universally unfair”.

In the Dáil on Wednesday night, he was expected to call on all sectors, including energy, transport and construction, to play their part in the climate bill targets.