Farmers who are in derogation are the most “closely inspected and supervised group of farmers in the State”, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) president Denis Drennan told European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall.
Speaking following a meeting with Commissioner Roswall in Dublin on Friday, Drennan said that it was vital that the commissioner saw firsthand the lengths and efforts Irish farmers were already engaged upon in the context of water quality.
“We clearly outlined to the commissioner the sustainable system of milk production in Ireland that is based on grazed grass and family farms – and we also stressed the importance of allowing dairy farmers a stocking rate that is sustainable from an environmental, social and economic perspective.
“It’s impossible to exaggerate how important it is that the over 7,000 farmers currently under the derogation are allowed to continue farming with some degree of predictability and stability.
"These farmers are the economic and social backbone of their communities and any undermining of their viability would have very significant negative consequences for large areas of rural Ireland,” Drennan said.
Arbitrary limit
The ICMSA president said that the 170kg N/ha stocking rate limit was arbitrary and had been set almost 35 years ago.
He said it bears absolutely no relationship to modern sustainable farming practices and he urged the commissioner to allow farmers to stock at higher levels which have been proven scientifically to be environmentally sustainable.
“Contrary to the impression given by certain NGOs, derogation farmers are absolutely not the source of all problems; they are the most closely inspected and supervised group of farmers and are often the most technically sustainable skillful farmers in the State.
“These dairy farmers have invested the most in environmental improvements and have most at stake,” Drennan said.
“Like all sectors, agriculture does have challenges on water quality, but the main point is that the problems are and can all be addressed and dealt with if we co-operate and collaborate,” he said.
The farm leader said that “we need to stop regulating and micro-managing family dairy farms out of existence”.
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Farmers who are in derogation are the most “closely inspected and supervised group of farmers in the State”, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) president Denis Drennan told European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall.
Speaking following a meeting with Commissioner Roswall in Dublin on Friday, Drennan said that it was vital that the commissioner saw firsthand the lengths and efforts Irish farmers were already engaged upon in the context of water quality.
“We clearly outlined to the commissioner the sustainable system of milk production in Ireland that is based on grazed grass and family farms – and we also stressed the importance of allowing dairy farmers a stocking rate that is sustainable from an environmental, social and economic perspective.
“It’s impossible to exaggerate how important it is that the over 7,000 farmers currently under the derogation are allowed to continue farming with some degree of predictability and stability.
"These farmers are the economic and social backbone of their communities and any undermining of their viability would have very significant negative consequences for large areas of rural Ireland,” Drennan said.
Arbitrary limit
The ICMSA president said that the 170kg N/ha stocking rate limit was arbitrary and had been set almost 35 years ago.
He said it bears absolutely no relationship to modern sustainable farming practices and he urged the commissioner to allow farmers to stock at higher levels which have been proven scientifically to be environmentally sustainable.
“Contrary to the impression given by certain NGOs, derogation farmers are absolutely not the source of all problems; they are the most closely inspected and supervised group of farmers and are often the most technically sustainable skillful farmers in the State.
“These dairy farmers have invested the most in environmental improvements and have most at stake,” Drennan said.
“Like all sectors, agriculture does have challenges on water quality, but the main point is that the problems are and can all be addressed and dealt with if we co-operate and collaborate,” he said.
The farm leader said that “we need to stop regulating and micro-managing family dairy farms out of existence”.
Read more
Commissioner ‘optimistic’ about finding solution to nitrates derogation
Cowen warns derogation approach leaves State open to legal fight
December D-day for derogation
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