The retention of the nitrates derogation was widely welcomed, with a queue of people lining up to congratulate each other and themselves on its extension for a further three years.

And not without reason, it was a considerable achievement, particularly considering Ireland is now the only EU country where farmers are allowed a stocking rate higher than the 170kg of organic nitrogen limit.

Other countries had to be convinced that there was logic in granting Ireland a dispensation that they themselves are denied.

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It took a united national effort led by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and the entire Government. They were supported by the opposition parties, apart from the Social Democrats and People Before Profit. A number of MEPs pushed hard, the farm organisations mounted a relentless and focused campaign, with the support of ICOS, DII and Teagasc research.

It’s hard to know how much Michael McGrath’s involvement extended past his recent announcement on Irish radio of environment commissioner Jessika Roswall’s support. There’s no doubt her visit to an Irish farm was a pivotal moment.

In fairness to McGrath, the work European Commissioners do in their national interest must by its nature be in-camera. He can’t have done any harm; let’s hope his influence extends to building Commission support for more robust supports for farmers around Mercosur.

Of course, there is little time for backslapping, as the clock is already ticking for the 7,000 or so derogation farmers. Three years is a short time on a livestock farm; heifer calves born next spring will only calve down once under this derogation’s umbrella. So the same effort that went into extending the derogation must now be applied to ensure we minimise the impact of farming on water quality.

It’s incumbent on all farmers to play their part on a day-to-day basis. And for those few bad actors who continue to act as if the rules are made for others, there must be no hiding place. They tarnish the name and reputation of all farmers when they act recklessly.

There is specific mention in the announcement of the derogation renewal of an extension to the Agricultural Catchments Programme. It has proven a fantastic learning tool, we need universal application of the learnings from it.

It was also interesting to see restrictions to sludge use on farms in autumn across the Barrow and Slaney catchments – tillage heartlands. Sludge, when properly utilised, has a place as a nutrient, but farmers should not be creating problems for their own sector while solving one of Irish Water’s many sustainability issues.

Irish farming has been living under the fear of a total loss of the derogation since the mid-term review changes in July 2023.

Now it can breathe a little more easily, but there needs now to be a renewed focus on all sides toward the difficult and painstaking work that can deliver improved water quality alongside farming.