Wednesday 4 March marked the official launch of the River Barrow ‘Better Farming for Water - eight actions for change’ action plan at Teagasc Oak Park.

The aim of the plan is to promote the adoption of the eight actions for change on farms in the Barrow catchment, focusing on improved nutrient management, enhanced farmyard management and strengthened land management practices to protect and enhance water quality.

The River Barrow is one of eight priority catchments, alongside the Slaney, Suir, Boyne, Nore, Blackwater, Lee and Bandon–Ilen.

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The Environmental Protection Agency identified these as “catchments of concern”, which have tailored action plans put in place with clear targets and timelines to achieve measurable improvements in water quality.

Implementation group

A Barrow catchment implementation group has been established to oversee delivery of the action plan.

Siobhán Walsh, a tillage farmer in the catchment and tillage editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, is chair of the group, with Tillage Industry Ireland (TII) acting as industry lead.

The initiative brings together a variety of stakeholders, including farmers, agri-food businesses, Teagasc, the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA), the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), local authorities and the wider community. The programme is also supported by a dedicated Teagasc catchment co-ordinator in Ciarán Sheelan.

Speaking at the launch, director of research at Teagasc professor Pat Dillon stated: “Farmers have a critical role to play in protecting and improving water quality in our rivers.

"In recent years, farmers have put in place many initiatives to improve water quality on their farms. However, there remains an urgent need to put in place further initiatives to reduce nutrient losses and every farmer has a part to play.”

A booklet was also launched, outlining the six pillars underpinning the Barrow catchment programme stakeholder engagement.

The full Barrow catchment plan can be viewed here.