Last week we got a handle on the clear direction of travel of the Department of Agriculture’s plan to green the new CAP.

This week we have more information on how this will be achieved.

The proposals will see 25% of farmer funds siphoned from Pillar I for eco schemes with a further 35% directed towards Pillar II for a new environmental scheme.

The potential for real impact on farmers’ income as we go through a period of so-called “consultation” has never been as high

Further developments this week propose new limits on suckler cows and new nitrate rules which will effectively limit the dairy herd.

So on top of a huge move for CAP funds away from food production towards the environment, we have two new capping measures to effectively reduce livestock numbers for two of our main grass-based livestock sectors.

The potential for real impact on farmers’ income as we go through a period of so-called “consultation” has never been as high.

Firstly, the Department is proposing to limit suckler cows in line with environmental measures, tied in with the new suckler cow scheme in the new CAP. Imposing new limits to a suckler sector already in decline, but largely responsible for maintaining the countryside in the west of Ireland, will create a battleground and an administrative nightmare when simplicity should be the order of the day.

Any milk supply survey plans collected by processors may be re-collected once farmers get their heads around what extra costs and stock limits have been proposed

Secondly, the Department’s proposed nitrates plan revealed this week effectively limits the dairy sector, imposing stricter stocking rate limits, increased measures to limit the amount of feed grown on farms and huge extra cost associated with slurry storage that will no doubt affect the best-laid plans of all dairy farmers and subsequently milk processors.

Any milk supply survey plans collected by processors may be re-collected once farmers get their heads around what extra costs and stock limits have been proposed.

Never before have we seen such a significant package of moves in our key livestock sectors. Policy and real-time proposed changes inside the farm gate mean farmers’ livelihoods are being significantly changed at the moment.

What’s very frustrating for farmers is that just this week, the much talked about new IPCC report – climate change 2021 – highlights that methane (from livestock) has been disproportionately blamed for increasing greenhouse gases in the environment.

The report suggests there is ‘high confidence’ in a new method to calculate methane’s impact on global warming

The agricultural industry has long been calling for a change to the way methane emissions are calculated as it differs from carbon dioxide which lasts much longer in the atmosphere.

The report suggests there is ‘high confidence’ in a new method to calculate methane’s impact on global warming, the GWP* method. If the GWP* metric was used, it would mean that stable livestock numbers keep the level of methane in the atmosphere static and so do not contribute to global warming.

A declining livestock herd would contribute to climate cooling, while increasing herd numbers would contribute to warming.

None of what is in the report or what I have said above gives a free pass to the agricultural industry on environmental obligations that farmers are adopting.

Farmers will adapt and invest

When low-emissions slurry spreading (LESS) tankers were first profiled a number of years ago, you could count on one hand how many were in the country. Now there are thousands. Over €150m has been invested in better nutrient management in the last five years.

Farmers will adapt and invest. However, new broad-brush rules on stocking rate limits for what is primarily a grass-based enterprise risk destabilising one of the most productive sectors of the agri economy.

Are these new rules an overreaction that could damage farming, our industry and our economy for little material difference?

Farmers want to be responsible and meaningful in what they do. Rubbing them up the wrong way is not a good way to do business. Discussion and engagement will lead to a better outcome.

Our farm leaders need to stand tall and be counted at this critical juncture in Irish farming.