The terms and conditions applying to the proposed three-year nitrates derogation extension will have to be “practicable and workable at farm level”, ICMSA president Denis Drennan told the association’s AGM in Limerick.

“We want the right measure in the right place, not every measure in every place,” he said.

He cautiously welcomed the proposed extension of the derogation, but warned that the “devil would be in the detail”.

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The nitrates derogation, Mercosur trade agreement and milk prices dominated exchanges at the AGM, which celebrated the ICMSA’s 75th year and was addressed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon.

The Taoiseach said news that the European Commission was recommending the extension of the derogation was welcome, but cautioned that “the final text needed to be reviewed and approved by member states”.

“We have made progress on this critical issue, but there are challenges – and I don’t want to understate those – and we’ll continue to push for the best outcome possible,” he said.

“We are the only member state seeking an extension, others are watching obviously, and there are legal contexts that we have to navigate,” he added.

Minister Heydon said the Commission’s decision on the derogation was “justified” given farmers’ efforts in improving water quality, and he stressed that farming could not take its “foot off the gas” on the issue.

CAP

Regarding CAP, both the Taoiseach and Minister Heydon insisted that an increase in the proposed EU farm budget was essential.

“Our position is clear; we do not support and will not support a weakening of the CAP budget. The next CAP must be adequately resourced to ensure a fair, stable income for producers, and to maintain food security across Europe,” the Taoiseach maintained.

Meanwhile, the ICMSA leader put pressure on the Taoiseach to support the farm body’s income volatility tax proposals.

Drennan claimed dairy farmer incomes risked being “absolutely decimated” by the continuing collapse in milk prices and he said an income volatility tool needed to be introduced as a matter of urgency. The Taoiseach committed to addressing the matter before the next budget.