The narrative coming from government talks is in danger of making a farce out of the serious issue of climate change. Ironically, it is being led by the Green Party who appear to be acting on the belief that climate change is an Irish rather than a global issue.

Despite the softening in tone, the Green Party – with their 12, largely urban-centred TDs – have a reduction in the national livestock herd firmly in their sights. The party’s policy to ban live exports and end the nitrates derogation will not only achieve the desired result but also move our production system away from sustainable grass-based farming.

So, assuming the Green Party form part of the next government, are we to expect that the policy direction for the next five years for agriculture will be less cows and more trees? In the context of meeting territorial emission targets, this makes some sense. However, where it becomes farcical is when we stand back and look at the real problem: the need to reduce emissions from global food production to tackle climate change.

We should no longer allow the Green Party turn a blind eye to the consequences of their actions. Those who promote the curtailment of sustainable grass-based production models simply to achieve national emission targets can no longer claim to have a green agenda. We only have to look to Brazil to see the consequences of viewing climate change through a nationalistic lens. Figures from the country’s national institute of space research shows over one million hectares – 25% of the agricultural land area in Ireland – were deforested in Brazil in 2019. The latest figures show the rate of deforestation in 2020 to be running 30% ahead of 2019.

The uncomfortable truth for the “nationalistic environmentalist” is these fires are being fuelled by the type of national polices we see being put forward by the Greens in Ireland. The Amazon is not being cleared for the land to simply lie idle – it is merely a response to increased global demand for grains and meat proteins. Brazil has seen soya bean exports increase by 300% in the last decade while beef exports over the past two decades are up 700%.

In a global marketplace, reducing dairy, beef and lamb output from an exporting country like Ireland will merely see production migrate – not only towards less carbon-efficient systems but also meat and dairy production models that compete for the limited availability of arable land which can produce human-edible protein.

Reducing dairy, beef and lamb output from Ireland will merely see production migrate

The fact that two-thirds of the world’s agricultural land area is unsuitable for growing crops is often ignored. The only way much of this land can be brought into the food production cycle is by grazing with ruminants that convert grass into meat and dairy proteins. This is extremely relevant for a country like Ireland where the predominant land type is not suitable for cropping.

It is ironic that if the debate on the future of our agriculture sector re-focused on tackling the global issue of climate change, rather than achieving national targets, the Green Party and farmers would find common ground on a number of issues – particularly in relation to some of the measures in the recent Farm to Fork strategy. Examples being the enforcement of EU sustainability measures within existing and future trade deals and the consideration of a consumption tax that reflects emissions and environmental impact of products produced across various regions.

This is where an Irish Government with a green mandate could have real influence in the EU. The potential to align many aspects of Green and agricultural agendas was evident in a recent report produced by the European Green Party.

It says: “A change of perspective is needed: sustainable grazing by cattle and other ruminant ‘relatives’ stimulates root growth and thereby humus building and carbon storage in the soil. In humus, more than half the content is carbon – the C from the CO2 in the atmosphere. Each additional ton of humus in the soil absorbs about 1.8 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Contrary to common assumption, cattle can help to limit climate change. If we let them …”

There are many aspects of the report with which farmers will disagree, but this would appear to form a solid basis on which to start a logical debate.

Ireland’s grass-based production model, along with an abundant supply of water, can be central to addressing the real problem: tackling climate change by reducing emissions from global food production.

If the Green Party is really in pursuit of tackling the serious issue of climate change, rather than national glory, they won’t find the solution in swapping cattle for trees in Ireland only to build feedlots in the Amazon.

This week's cartoon

\ Jim Cogan

Brexit: juggernaut rolling towards Irish farmers

The fourth and final scheduled round of negotiations on a trade deal between the EU and UK is taking place this week. There is little optimism of any progress on securing a deal for the start of next year, assuming the UK doesn’t extend the current transition arrangement.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet in the next couple of weeks to review progress. We can still hope that a last-minute deal can be put together, as happened with the withdrawal agreement last October.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is due to meet Boris Johnson in the coming weeks to review progress.

If the UK and EU can agree the operation of the Irish protocol that was agreed irrespective of the outcome of the wider discussion on a future trading relationship, then trade with Northern Ireland is covered. However, it is a very different picture for Irish exports to Britain now that the UK has indicated the tariffs they will charge on imports to protect their domestic production.

These will hit all exports of Irish agricultural produce but it is beef that is most exposed given there is no alternative to the UK market of similar value. It is amazing that the formation of government discussions that have been obsessed with replacing cattle with trees have given no meaningful consideration to the biggest ever threat to Irish exports and the consequences for Irish farmers.

EU: have your say in our live webinar

The Irish Farmers Journal is delighted to partner with the European Commission Representation in Ireland on a live webinar with the most senior agriculture official in Brussels – Wolfgang Burtscher, director general in DG Agri.

The webinar takes place today (Thursday 4 June) at noon and we want to hear from you.

Have you got a question about the new CAP, the circular economy action plan, the Farm to Fork or biodiversity strategies?

You can submit your questions during the live webinar by email to thenewcap@farmersjournal.ie . You can also tweet your question using #thenewcap or send them through WhatsApp to 086-836 6465.

You can watch the webinar live here. The recording will be available on our website afterwards.

IFA: Cullinan strong on his views for farming

IFA president Tim Cullinan.

Pat O’Toole interviewed IFA president Tim Cullinan this week. Cullinan is direct in his views and has set clear targets for the organisation – ranging from an enhanced CAP budget to fulfilling his campaign pledge to deliver a scheme for sucker and sheep farmers.

He has made a number of big calls in relation to the inclusion of dairy bred stock as part of a PGI for Irish beef and an ending of CAP payments to those renting out their land.

Given the challenges facing the sector, his straight talking is likely to be welcomed by farmers and form the basis for strong debate on key issues. He is calling for more consultation with farmers around PGI criteria.

Forestry: removing barriers to forestry planting

What other land use requires a site notice, outlining crop plans? This is the first stage of forest planning. When that obstacle is cleared, the farmer can spend up to two years before Department forestry inspectors approve the planting licence. This is then open to further objections. When a road is planned to harvest the crop, the farmer goes through the exact same process. Activities such as small scale planting and thinning should be excluded from licensing altogether and more use made of forest management plans.

The Department needs to think smarter if Ireland is to achieve an 8,000ha annual planting programme.